Costs for bike path go up

Costs for a West Carson City bike path have gone up by $250,000.

State and city officials have been planning for the V&T bike path for almost seven years. The 1-1/4 mile path is planned between Kings Canyon Road and Combs Canyon Road in a combination of bike lanes and paths.

Glen Petrenko, a senior engineer with the Nevada Department of Transportation, updated the Carson City Regional Transportation Commission on Wednesday on the cost increases.

Funded with a $250,000 federal grant and $60,000 from the RTC, the project was estimated originally at $250,000. It is now estimated at $550,000. Patrinko estimates construction on the path could begin in July 2002.

Patrinko said costs have gone up because of changed terrain from the 1997 and the expansion of Western Nevada Community College, inflation and staff turnover at NDOT, Petrenko said.

Carson City officials have been working on gaining easements from area property owners, and residents in the Wellington Crescent Subdivision have questioned a 12-foot easement through their private subdivision.

Steve Kastens, parks and recreation director, told transportation commissioners he's had positive discussions with property owners and didn't "see any problems seeing it go through."

Federal guidelines prohibit state officials from dealing with the right of way issues until the exact route of the path is set.

Kastens also said he would ask for no more money from the RTC to finish the path. He will seek funding from other sources.

"I tell you the people of this community are going to doggone love that," Commissioner Marv Teixeira said.