Favoring a Carson City depot site for the reconstructed Virginia & Truckee Railway that has accessibility from Highway 50 East, visibility, and is a safe distance from the flood plain, V&T commissioners narrowed the field to two possible locations Monday.
Tackling one of the most critical issues to Carson City concerning the tourist track, the Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the V&T Railway discussed nine options for the depot site, but quickly narrowed it to two. One preferred site is off Detroit Lane. The other is on land owned by developer Andy Hettrick, project manager for RIDL Ltd., on the south side of the highway below the Eagle Valley Golf Course's East Course.
Hettrick said his 153-acre development includes plans for the terminal, a casino/hotel and museums.
Commissioners also favored locating the terminal at the end of the railway. Five sites were eliminated because they aren't close to the end of the track in Carson City.
Carson City Mayor Marv Teixeira, who also sits on the railway commission, said if the commission wants to get $15 million out of Carson City with a proposed bond that would raise sales tax an eighth of a cent, then the terminal has to be at the end of the track in Carson City. He also is willing to spend the money to get it.
"We're only going to do this once and I want a Cadillac, not a Model T Ford," Teixeira said. "Let's build a Cadillac and if it's going to cost a couple million bucks, I'll get you the money."
Bob Hadfield, commission chairman, said he preferred sites close to Highway 50 and sites that didn't run the train through a flood plain.
"We've got to get to Highway 50," Hadfield said. "We've got to calculate that people have got to see this train. In my view that's extremely critical."
A site at Empire Ranch Golf Course was eliminated by the commission because of environmental concerns. The Bertagnolli Pit near the river was ruled out because of poor visibility and a new road would have to be built to reach it.
Commissioner Jim Baushke moved to instruct the engineering staff to review the Hettrick site and the Detroit Lane site as depot locations. No development plan has been created for the Detroit Lane property.
At the commission's next meeting Oct. 3 it will hear proposals on both locations before selecting the location of the depot.
n Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.
What it means
The Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the V&T Railway is looking to build a depot at the Carson City end of the short line railroad. Two of nine sites have been chosen as possible locations. Both are to the east of Highway 50 in east Carson City. One, being termed the Hettrick site, is east of the Eagle Valley Golf Course's East Course. The other, termed the Detroit Road site, is to the west of the first at Detroit Road.
If you go
WHAT: Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the V&T Railway meeting
WHEN: Oct. 3, time TBA
WHERE: Nevada Association of Counties building, 201 S. Roop St.
