City takes another look at regional transportation group

Carson City transportation officials may be willing to let Douglas County have a seat on a new, regional transportation planning group.

Today, commissioners plan to consider a recommendation to create a seven-member board composed of Carson's five transportation commissioners and one representative each from the state transportation agency and Douglas County.

Supervisor Jon Plank, chairman of the Carson Regional Transportation Commission, said last week after reviewing requirements for a metropolitan planning organization, he is comfortable with a little representation from the south.

The organization is a planning group that takes over from the Nevada Department of Transportation the prioritization of federally funded road projects in its region. The organization also will have control over an estimated $500,000 in transit funds.

The 2000 Census set the boundaries for the organization and included in it a chunk of northern Douglas County and a slight portion of Mound House in Lyon County. Plank argued because more than 80 percent of the organization is in Carson City, the city should control the organization with no input from surrounding counties.

In August, transportation commissioners postponed deciding the make up of the planning organization because of concerns over multi-county representation.

The communities have to come up with matching money to be able to access the transit funds, Plank said. As long as Douglas County pays its share for programs that benefit its fair portion of the organization, Plank said he has no problem inviting the neighboring county to the table.

Besides transit funds, the group will receive about $79,000 in planning money.

Despite the decision of Carson transportation commissioners and eventually the city's Board of Supervisors on the group's membership, Gov. Kenny Guinn will make the final appointments to the organization.

IF YOU GO

What: Regional Transportation Commission

When: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Carson Community Center's Sierra Room, 851 E. William St.