South Carson City Highway 50 extension could open June 1

The extension of the freeway from Fairview Drive to U.S. Highway 50 and South Carson Street could open June 1.

That’s the target, said Mayor Bob Crowell during the Wednesday meeting of the Regional Transportation Commission.

Sondra Rosenberg, the RTC representative from the Nevada Department of Transportation, said construction completion depends on the winter weather but a summer 2017 opening of the bypass is the goal.

The construction includes paving, landscaping, sound walls and a four-legged at-grade signalized intersection at Highway 50 and South Carson Street.

During the meeting, Crowell asked staff about the new stop sign installed on Mountain Street at Fleischmann Way after getting calls from citizens who were both in favor and opposed to it.

Patrick Pittenger, Carson City transportation manager, said he had received an increase in requests to solve a line-of-site problem there.

Parking is prohibited close to the intersection, but the medical offices there draw significant on-street parking, which blocks the view of drivers turning from Fleischmann Way onto the busier Mountain Street.

The new stop sign was installed two weeks ago, Pittenger said, and signage, including large message boards, were placed there to warn drivers of it.

Pittenger also updated the RTC on several ongoing projects.

The multi-use path running east and west of I-580 from Northridge Drive to Highway 50, then east of the freeway to Fifth Street, is 90 percent designed and will begin construction next year.

A flashing yellow arrow to improve pedestrian safety is now being installed at Winnie Lane and Carson Street and another will go in at Roop and Robinson streets.

And the Maverik gas station at College Parkway and Research Way is now working on expanding for diesel pumps and trucks and is adding a traffic signal there in a $475,000 project being funded jointly by the gas station operator and the city.

The signal is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

The RTC approved a 90-day contract extension for a broker who gets the city reimbursements for Medicaid recipients who ride the Jump Around Carson Assist transit system.

A three-year contract ends this year but the city is using a new vendor and wants to ensure its being reimbursed properly before committing to another long-term contract.

The RTC also approved revisions to the snow removal map, which made minor changes including the addition of Racetrack Road at the Schulz Ranch residential development.

RTC member Mark Kimbrough said Carson City recently received several awards from NDOT’s Nevada Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Board.

Cortney Bloomer, who coordinates Carson City’s Safe Routes to School program, which helps students learn the skills to bike and walk to school safely, also took home an award, said Kimbrough.