Nevada to get $75 million for transportation projects

The Senate Appropriations Committee has added almost $75 million to next year's federal budget for transportation projects in Nevada, including money for bus service between Carson City and Stateline.

U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the projects range from highway to rail and airport projects.

"This funding is a great investment in Nevada's future," he said.

The appropriations are in addition to the state's allotment of federal highway fund money to be used in construction of the Carson City freeway, Hoover Dam bypass, the I-580 freeway and other transportation projects. The state's transportation budget totals $619.8 million in fiscal 2004 and $670.3 million in fiscal 2005.

The largest single item on the list is $25 million for continued construction of the Las Vegas monorail. Another $1 million is on the list to begin developing a magnetic levitation train system between Southern Nevada and California.

There is also $11.5 million for bus facilities and equipment in Northern Nevada including transportation terminals in Reno and Sparks and bus rapid transit along Virginia Street in Reno.

That is accompanied by $300,000 for public transit services to establish commuter services from Carson City, Minden and Gardnerville to South Shore at Lake Tahoe.

Another $1 million will provide special transportation services for the elderly and disabled in rural areas including Fallon, Virginia City, Douglas and Lyon counties as well as Elko, West Wendover, Ely, Laughlin, Mesquite and Lincoln County.

A $4 million appropriation will help build a new air traffic control tower at McCarran airport in Las Vegas and $2 million will do the same at Reno-Tahoe airport.

Reid said six airports including Carson City's were approved for federal airport improvement grants. The amount of those grants will be announced later.

Most of the remaining funding is for special projects in Southern Nevada.