State transportation officials unveil options for future

Douglas County residents were asked to consider a second Minden roundabout, this time at the junction of Highway 395 and State Route 88, just one of the proposals presented by the Nevada Department of Transportation recently.

Facilitator Sue Newberry said roundabouts provide opportunities to enhance a neighborhood with additional landscaping. They're effective in calming traffic, thus creating pedestrian-friendly environments. Because they can increase the capacity at an intersection by 30 percent, roundabouts can eliminate the need for adding lanes.

It's hard to refute the numbers, when it comes to safety.

"Roundabouts can reduce fatalities at an intersection by up to 90 percent," she said. "They're responsible for a 76 percent reduction in injury crashes and another 30 to 40 percent reduction in pedestrian accidents."

Roundabouts are more expensive and often difficult to sell to the public initially, but they require less maintenance than a conventional light, Newberry said.

She spoke before a group of about 100 residents concerning everything from development of alternate routes, the goal to generate community understanding.

The proposals are preliminary. No funding has been designated for any of the eight proposals. Right-of-way and environmental impacts would have to be determined before making a decision to pursue any of the eight concepts, which focus on the Highway 395 corridor between Carson City and State Route 88. Right-of-way and environmental impacts would have to be determined before making a decision to pursue any of the eight concepts presented last week.

Predicted traffic volumes, land use plans, the Douglas County road system, current and future safety, and public input are all key considerations for these proposals, which focus on addressing traffic issues up to 2030.

"This is part of an ongoing process," Newberry said. "They want resident input early."

Residents were invited to comment on a number of proposals, including the following:

• A proposal called the "Heybourne connection to the Carson Freeway" would start at the intersection of Johnson Lane and Heybourne Road, then veer east and north to join the proposed Highway 395 on the southeast corner of Carson City.

Studies thus far indicate that congestion on Highway 395 would not be significantly improved if the road is completed. Traffic on Highway 395 is estimated at a category E or F, or extreme congestion and road failure by 2030 if the road is completed.

Level F is often attained along Highway 50 in the Stateline area during the summer, said Transportation spokesman Scott Magruder.

• To address the congestion on north Douglas County's commercial row, frontage roads are proposed from the Highway 395/50 interchange in Carson City south to Mica Drive.

Highway 395 would include four lanes to Mica Drive, then expand to six lanes from Mica south to Muller Lane.

With this improvement, the congestion would be estimated at C from Johnson Lane north to Carson City. From Johnson Lane south to Muller, the congestion would be increased to D by the year 2030.

• Another proposal includes both of the previously described plans. The proposal could significantly reduce congestion from Carson City to Johnson Lane over either plan alone, but it would be expensive.

Congestion and delays would improve significantly, or to a "B" classification, from Johnson Lane north to Carson, but remain a "D" south from Johnson to Muller lanes.

• A fifth scenario linking Carson Valley and the proposed Highway 395 freeway in southeast Carson City starts at Stephanie Way and Vicky Lane, looping east and then north.

Costs for this new corridor would be low, but congestion would still be gridlocked at a level E or F along Highway 395 in 2030, after the road is completed.

Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.

BREAKOUT

Another community workshop on transportation needs from Highway 395 and State Route 88 to California is scheduled from 6:30-9 p.m., Jan. 31 at the CVIC Hall, 1602 Esmeralda Ave., Minden.

Information on the corridor study can be accessed at www.douglascounty395.com.