South Carson Street project to get grant funding

The Regional Transportation Commission voted Wednesday to allocate 2018 block grant funding to the South Carson complete streets project.

The Surface Transportation Block Grant is federal funding that comes through the Nevada Department of Transportation. For 2018, Carson City is slated to receive approximately $372,000, Dirk Goering, transportation planner, told the RTC.

The project to narrow South Carson Street and add bike and walking paths, landscaping and additional safety features is being funded in part by $5.1 million Carson City is receiving from NDOT as part of the transfer of the street from the state to the city.

The block grant money for 2019 and 2020 may also be allocated to the project at a later date.

The RTC also approved a contract not to exceed $168,307.70 with Sierra Nevada Construction, Inc., for several slurry seal projects, on Airport Road between Highway 50 and College Parkway, on William Street between Carson and Minnesota streets, and on Stewart Street between South Carson and William streets.

Goering also updated the RTC on ongoing projects, including Americans with Disabilities Act improvements along the historic Blue Line, which are nearly complete, and design completion of the Carson City Freeway Multi-Use Path.

Darren Schulz, Public Works director, said a future agenda item should include introduction of a new transportation manager. Patrick Pittenger left the city last month to become executive director of the Merced County Association of Governments in California.

Schulz also said the department is holding an open house for the public on Saturday.