Letters to the editor for Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015

Not in favor of changes downtown

I continue to be mystified by the lack of accuracy, clarity and foresight concerning important elements of the downtown project. It has been stated for months that the plan is to take .7 miles of Carson Street and change it from four lanes to three.

This is an extremely misleading statement, when, in fact, it will go from four lanes of traffic to two lanes of traffic (one lane in each direction to be more specific.) The proposed left turn lane cannot be viewed as a traffic lane, and is not a factor, as left turn areas exist at the present time. Simply put, Carson Street will lose two of its current four traffic lanes. Four minus two equals two, not three. Someone needs to do the math.

My additional concern is that the designated area from Fifth Street to William Street, where the sidewalks will be widened, has historically been a difficult area for development given the space taken up by the museum, casinos and government buildings. I do not believe that wide sidewalks and bike lanes are going to bring a greater number of people into downtown.

The bottom line is the $10 million to $12 million investment, paid for by the increase in our sales tax, could create a situation in which drivers are inconvenienced and pedestrian traffic is light (especially in winter months). Meanwhile, Carson Street will have been permanently altered with vehicles compressed.

Martin J. Fischer

Carson City

Good luck to WNC softball team

I just want to say to the Western Nevada College softball team, you ladies played very hard in Yuma, Ariz.

You are the best. I mean it from my bottom of my heart — good luck during the home game on Feb. 27. You practice very hard.

Kevin Marcella

Carson City