Three separate roadway safety projects are being considered by the Carson City Regional Transportation Commission.
RTC members unanimously approved applications for Highway Safety Improvement Program Funds, which total more than $2M. The federal funding would be reliant upon a $100.2K local match. Applications are being forwarded to the Nevada Department of Transportation, which administers the funds.
A Local Road Safety Plan completed last year allowed the applications for the funding to be filed. The focus is not strictly on Carson City: the projects target land in Lyon County and Douglas County as well.
Curry Street Complete Streets Project
RTC members ranked the priority of the three projects. The project with the highest priority is a $308.8K Curry Street Complete Streets Project. This project requires a local match of $16.3K. The HSIP funds would go toward street lighting and moving the overhead utilities.
When originally considering the project, street lighting was not a part of the greater scope of the project. It was added later, as it is a proven Federal Highway Administration safety method. The Curry Street project stretches from Rhodes Street and the U.S. Forest Service parcel to the north.
The project was originally estimated to cost $4.7M. Federal congressional spending was to be used to cover $2.6M.
Saliman Road School Routes Improvement Project
The second highest priority project is the Saliman Road School Routes Improvement Project. This project is seeking $689K in HSIP funding. A 5% local match is required, which totals $36.3K.
The funding will go toward radar feedback signs, crosswalk lighting, raised medians, upgrades to signals, ADA improvements and sidewalk widening. The improvements to this stretch of road will affect Carson High School, Fremont Elementary School and Seeliger Elementary School.
College Parkway and Fairview Drive Pedestrian Safety Project
The final project, the College Parkway and Fairview Drive Pedestrian Safety Project, is requesting $906.3K; this project also requires a 5% local match, which equates to $47.7K. Preliminary design concepts have already been reviewed by the RTC. The concepts focused on College Parkway at Imperial Way, College Parkway and Northgate Lane, College Parkway and Airport Road, Fairview Drive and Gordon Street, Fairview Drive and Desatoya Drive, and Fairview Drive and Edmonds Drive.
The featured locations would receive new signage, reflective striping and improved yield bars. Improvements also include pedestrian islands, which may affect existing turn lanes. Details are not finalized, as the RTC is considering the proper location for pedestrian islands to not disrupt existing traffic flow.
Timeline
While plans are not finalized, they are rapidly moving forward. The City of Carson City expects to have all plans complete by May 2026 and expects to begin construction on the projects during spring 2027. (Source)
