Consolidating phases of highway project to save up to $100 million

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada received a series of reports on future projects for roads, highways and transit at today’s meeting.

The issue: The RTC received a report on future highway projects from the Nevada Transportation Department. An update on Project Neon, a traffic-congestion relief project planned at the Spaghetti Bowl, was the highlight.

The vote: Accepted report without vote.

What it means: NDOT representatives said they received an unsolicited proposal to consolidate two phases of Project Neon, which includes building a high-occupancy-vehicle flyover ramp to connect northbound U.S. 95 to southbound Interstate 15 to relieve traffic generated by 270,000 vehicles a day at the intersection.

NDOT reported that at November’s Transportation Board meeting, it agreed to create a request for proposals to consolidate the two phases, which should save $80 million to $100 million.

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The issue: A proposed alternate transportation services contract will enable the RTC to better serve customers with disabilities in specially made vehicles from the private sector. It would supplement current paratransit service at a reduced cost.

The vote: 7-0

What it means: With today’s approval, the RTC is expected to solicit contractors by the end of the month, receive proposals by the end of January, award a contract in March and begin service in April. It’s estimated the average cost per trip will be reduced from $32.89 to $15.65.

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