CAMPO backs freeway-bypass path project

A $682,500 multi-use path project alongside the I-580 freeway bypass won endorsement Wednesday from the Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Authority (CAMPO) to help in a grant-application process.

The CAMPO panel, made up of representatives from Carson City, Douglas County and Lyon County, voted unanimously to endorse the plan to help in seeking federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding that would cover 95 percent of the overall amount cited. The rest would come from matching funds.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) established a process giving bonus points in the federal grant competition to projects that obtain metro planning organization endorsement. Carson City Transportation Manager Patrick Pittenger said it helps, though it doesn’t guarantee securing the grant. He was optimistic, however, about chances even though competition is fierce.

“They do have about twice as many applications as they can fund,” he said. He said a decision is expected May 8.

The path would run from north of East William Street along the freeway south to the vicinity of Fifth Street.

Meeting right after CAMPO was the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), which is made up of just the Carson City members who also sit on CAMPO.

Those RTC members authorized Pittenger to enter into two agreements with NDOT for other projects already in the works and previously funded via the TAP process.

One is for about $200,000, with the agreement between Carson City and the state highway agency to do a shared-use path along the south side of East William Street from Saliman Road to about the Gold Dust West. The decision also authorized Pittenger to sign future amendments for time extensions or changes in value up to 20 percent should additional federal funding appear. Pittenger said that project should start in about a year.

The other is for approximately $100,000 to do curb, gutter, sidewalk and related work along the south side of College Parkway near and onto the Western Nevada College campus. The same time extension and 20 percent leeway language was included. Pittenger said the project likely would be done this construction season.