In a major show of unity, Nevada’s transportation and planning agencies today rallied to raise awareness for Nevadans and fellow Americans to “Stand Up for Transportation,” an urgent call for federal passage of a long-term transportation funding bill before the current legislation expires on May 31. Statewide, $26.4 billion in transportation projects are unfunded over the next 20 years, including $8 billion in Southern Nevada, according to the statewide “Unified Transportation Investment Plan Preview” that was released at the event.
The Regional Transportation Commission hosted a press conference at their Sunset Maintenance Facility, where an 80 percent federally funded Mobile Training Center is under construction. It will open this fall to train people with disabilities and senior citizens to safely and properly use RTC Transit fixed-route service as well as provide paratransit certification.
In Carson City, the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County, the Carson Area Metro Planning Organization and the Tahoe Metropolitan Planning Organization and Transportation District also held a press conference. The rallies are in response to an American Public Transportation Association (APTA) call for Americans to urge Congress to pass legislation before the Moving Ahead for the Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) expires next month. About 216 participating organizations and more than 300 communities nationwide held similar public awareness events today.
The RTC worked cooperatively with the Northern Nevada transportation and metropolitan planning organizations, with support from the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), to develop the “Unified Transportation Investment Plan Preview,” which was unveiled today at the rallies. The preview compiles information from all of the agencies regarding the state’s infrastructure needs and ultimately, funding shortfalls. The entities continue to work together to complete a comprehensive, 20-year plan that will propose solutions to meet the identified needs and growing transportation demands.
“We are Standing Up for Transportation so Southern Nevada and our great state can move forward,” said Brown. “If Congress doesn’t act in a timely manner, the funding shortfall in our state will grow. That’s why we are here today, uniting our voices with fellow Americans nationwide to support critical long-term funding.”
Brown noted that in Southern Nevada, the RTC and the federal government have worked together to fund numerous transportation projects, improving commutes and quality of life for residents and visitors alike. “We have enjoyed a productive partnership with the federal government on various projects over the years. We have also recently generated momentum locally with Fuel Revenue Indexing projects. However, without a long-term federal transportation funding bill, future projects to build critically needed transportation infrastructure and transit facilities may be delayed or in jeopardy.”
City of Henderson Councilwoman Debra March and Deputy Director Tracy Larkin-Thomason joined Brown at the local event which highlighted videos of statewide transportation leaders and other Nevadans echoing the Stand Up for Transportation theme. To view these clips, visit the RTC Facebook page.
As the Mobility Training Center illustrates, Tina Quigley, RTC general manager added that transportation funding is not all about building roads. “Federal funding makes possible modes of transportation like light rail, transit improvements, pedestrian safety projects, bridges and bike lanes, for example,” she said. “We are growing again in Southern Nevada and the transportation projects are needs, not ‘nice-to-haves,’ so please contact your Congressional representative to urge support to extend this vital legislation.”
The RTC event, which was streamed live via the RTC’s Facebook page and Twitter account, finished with guests wearing Stand Up for Transportation t-shirts and signing their names to show their commitment to Stand Up for Transportation on a specially wrapped RTC Transit bus.
The $105 billion Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act was signed into law in July 2012 for fiscal years 2013-14. It was extended last September and is the first long-term highway authorization enacted since 2005.
