$650K grant for Carson multi-use path is sought

Submission of a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant seeking $650,000 in federal money for a multi-use path along the Carson City bypass freeway was approved Wednesday.

The city’s Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) voted without dissent to authorize the submittal. It requires a small local match for the project, which will take the overall cost to $682,500. The path will run from Northridge Drive just north of U.S. Highway 50 East, crossing at Lompa Lane and running south along the freeway to the city’s linear park near Fifth Street.

The commission also approved a contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates of Reno to provide engineering services on a Carson City Americans with Disabilities Act transition plan for transportation facilities through March 31, 2015. The contractor was written with language showing it cannot exceed $190,000 to help prioritize ways of making the city more ADA-compliant. The vote was 4-1, with Commissioner Robert McQueary dissenting.

Acting on consent agenda items, the commission authorized final payment of $90,611 for 2013 street-maintenance work and $20,872 for East Fifth Street bike and pedestrian improvement work. The action also accepted the work as completed. The higher payment was approved for Sierra Nevada Construction; the lower will go to A & K Earth Movers.

Transportation Manager Patrick Pittenger reported to commissioners on the Feb. 18 public-input meeting he held in the Bonanza Room at the Community Center. It was aimed at people interested in providing views on a short-range plan for the Jump Around Carson bus system covering up to five years.

He said not a lot of people appeared, but some with suggestions about ways to provide better service for disabled people and advocating later service did. He said another such meeting will be held in May.

The commission recognized Michael Smith with the Katherine McClary Operator of the Quarter award for his service in last year’s fourth quarter at JAC, and Jon Winters with the Katherine McClary operator of the year award for 2013 at JAC.

The Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting, which usually precedes the RTC session, was canceled.