Regional
Transportation
Commission of
Southern
Nevada
Regional Transportation Plan
2009-2030
A Plan for Mobility
in the Las Vegas Region
over the next 20 years
Published by
The Regional Transportation Commission
of Southern Nevada
600 South Grand Central Parkway
Las Vegas, Nevada 89106-4512
November 2008
The preparation of this document was financed, in part by a grant from the
United States Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration
under Section 8 of the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964, as amended,
and the Federal Highway Administration under Title 23, Section 134 of the United
States Code.
Regional Transportation Plan for 2009-2030:
Resolution of Adoption
RESOLUTION NO. 237
ADOPTION OF REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN FY 2009-2030 FOR CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA WHEREAS, Title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 450, and Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 613, require the preparation of a Regional Transportation Plan; and,
WHEREAS, the Regional Transportation Plan is updated every two to four years under the direction of the Metropoli-tan Planning Organization; and,
WHEREAS, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada has been designated by the Governor of the State of Nevada as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for Clark County, Nevada; and,
WHEREAS, the Regional Transportation Commission through the conduct of a continuing, comprehensive and coordinated transportation planning process carried out in conjunction with the Regional Transportation Commis-sion member entities and the Nevada Department of Transportation has prepared a Regional Transportation Plan for Clark County, Nevada, which includes all federal and non-federal regionally significant transportation projects; and,
WHEREAS, the Regional Transportation Commission finds that pursuant to Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regula-tions, Part 93, this Regional Transportation Plan conforms with the intent of the State Air Quality Implementation Plans; and,
WHEREAS, the Regional Transportation Commission finds that this Regional Transportation Plan has been prepared through a process of agency coordination and in accordance with adopted public participation procedures.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Regional Transportation Commission does hereby adopt and en-dorse the Regional Transportation Plan for Fiscal Years 2009-2030, compiled for the period October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2030.
This action is taken with the understanding that all projects in the area or jurisdiction of the Regional Transportation Commission member entities have been approved by each entity’s board.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 13th day of November, 2008.
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION of SOUTHERN NEVADA
By: _________________________________________________ LAWRENCE L. BROWN III, Chairman
ATTEST: _________________________, 2008
By: _________________________________________________ TONI MICHENER, Executive Assistant
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada has determined that the Regional Transportation Plan for Fiscal Years 2009-2030 conforms with the applicable State Implementation Plans for air quality. This Conformity Determination was adopted by the Regional Transportation Commission concurrently with the adoption of the Regional Transportation Plan.
Therefore, pursuant to 23 CFR 450.300 - 450.336, 23 CFR 770 and 40 CFR 93 the Regional Transportation Plan and the Transportation Improvement Program is hereby certified as being in conformance with the State Implementation Plan.
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION of SOUTHERN NEVADA
By: _________________________________________________ LAWRENCE L. BROWN III, Chairman
ATTEST: _________________________, 2008
By: _________________________________________________ TONI MICHENER, Executive Assistant
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Conformity Determination Statement Relative
CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
I certify that the transportation planning in the Clark County Transportation Management Area is done in conformance with all the applicable requirements of 23 USC 134, 49 USC 1607, 23 CFR 450, 49 USC 7504, 49 USC 7506 (c) and (d), and in accordance with all requirements of PL 101-549, the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
Furthermore, I certify that the Amended Transportation Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2009-2012 conforms to the intent of the State Implementation Plan(s). This ensures that all transportation related projects, policies and pro-grams do not contribute to any violation of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards; that all projected travel related emissions are determined to be less than the mobile source emissions budgets established by the 2006 CO State Imple-mentation Plan (SIP) revision to the 2004 CO SIP for Carbon Monoxide, the 2004 PM10 SIP, and less than the Ozone “Action versus No Build” test as defined in 40 CFR Part 93.
By: _________________________________________________ LAWRENCE L. BROWN III, Chairman
ATTEST: _________________________, 2008
By: _________________________________________________ TONI MICHENER, Executive Assistant
Acknowledgments
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
City of Boulder City Mayor, Roger Tobler City of Henderson Councilman, Andy Hafen
City of Las Vegas Councilman, Larry Brown, Chairman City of Las Vegas Mayor, Oscar Goodman
City of Mesquite Councilman, David Bennett City of North Las Vegas Councilman, Robert L. Eliason
Clark County Commissioner, Chip Maxfield, Vice Chairman Clark County Commissioner, Bruce L. Woodbury
State of Nevada Director, NDOT, Susan Martinovich, (Ex-Officio)
EXECUTIVE ADVISORY COMMITTE
City of Boulder City Brok Armantrout City of Boulder City Scott Hansen, Chairman
City of Henderson Stephanie Garcia-Vause City of Henderson Robert Murnane, P.E.
City of Las Vegas Jorge Cervantes City of Las Vegas Margo Wheeler
City of Mesquite J. Allen Bell, P.E. City of Mesquite Cathrine Lorbeer City of North Las Vegas Frank Fiori City of North Las Vegas Qiong Liu, P.E.,
Clark County Denis Cederburg, P.E. Vice Chairman Clark County Barbara Ginoulias
NDOT Rudy Malfabon
TRANSPORTATION ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Joseph Bifano, Vice Chairman James Speed Karen Bishop Ralph Steele
Janie Brown Mary Ann Hantout Corie Craig Mary Ann Wainwright Alfreda Ferrell Gerry Petuya
Jessie Harris Jerry Sim
Gary Shade Jean Peyton, Chairwoman
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION OF SOUTHERN NEVADA STAFF
General Manager, Jacob L. Snow Deputy General Manager, Tina Quigley
Assistant General Manager, Administrative Services, M.J. Maynard Assistant General Manager, MPO, Fred A. Ohene
Assistant General Manager, Transit, Mark Wells Assistant General Manager, HR/Safety & Security, Jerry Keating
Assistant General Manager Governmental Affairs, Tracy Bower Director of Planning Services, Bruce Turner
Director of Engineering Services, Mike Hand Director of FAST, Glenn Grayson Director of Transit Services, Sandra Stanko
Manager Planning, Martyn James Manager Planning, Jerry Duke
Manager Planning, Beth Xie Manager Engineering, Paul Judd Manager of Public Information, Jackie Dennis Manager Transit Specialized Services, Sue Joseph
Principal Transportation Planner, Paulette Carolin Principal Transportation Planner, Mohammad Farhan
Public Information Coordinator, Mary Polidoro Senior Transportation Planner, Philip Banea Senior Transportation Planner, Maria G. Rodriguez
Senior Transportation Planner, Lijuan Su Senior Transportation Planner, Hui Shen Transportation Planner, David A. Boocher
Graphic Artist, Nate Hall Graphic Artist, Jan Wadsworth Administrative Specialist, Rene Sharp Administrative Specialist, Shondra Summers-Armstrong
Contents
Executive Summary
ES 1
1: Developing the Plan
1
2: The Region Today
13
3: Key Issues and Challenges
29
4: Developing the Strategy
63
5: Investment Strategy
77
6: Outcomes and Analyses
109
7: Next Steps
123
List of Figures
Chapter 1
Figure 1-1: Local Entities & RTC Commissioners, 2008 1 Figure 1-2: Population and Vehicle Miles, 1992-2006 5 Figure 1-3: Highway Lane Miles, 1995-200 5 Figure 1-4: Transit Ridership, 1993-2007 6 Figure 1-5: Accomplishments, 1992-2008 7
Chapter 2
Figure 2-1: Employment and Population Growth 13 Figure 2-2: Jobs-Housing Balance 13 Figure 2-3: Employment Density 14 Figure 2-4: Valley Development, 1980-2030 15
Figure 2-5: Visitors 16
Figure 2-6: McCarran International Airport Passengers 17 Figure 2-7: Roadway System and Congestion, 2007 18 Figure 2-8: FAST Facilities 19 Figure 2-9: Area within ¼ Mile of an RTC Transit Route 20 Figure 2-10: Silver STAR Routes 21 Figure 2-11: Taxi Trips and Visitors 21 Figure 2-12: Share the Road Sign 22 Figure 2-13: On- and Off-Street Bicycle Facilities 23 Figure 2-14: Bikes on Buses 23 Figure 2-15: National Highway System Facilities 25 Figure 2-16: Current Train Volumes Compared 27 to Current Train Capacity
Chapter 3
Figure 3-1: Reduction in Conflict Points 34 Figure 3-2: Commuter Participation in SOV Trip 38 Reduction Programs
Figure 3-3: RTC Transit Concept Map 42 Figure 3-4: Harmon Avenue Proposed Street 46 Enhancements
Figure 3-5: Street & Highway, Transit, and 50 Bicycle Networks
Figure 3-6: Historic Sites/Buildings 53 Figure 3-7: Land Ownership and Designation 54 Figure 3-8: Flood Washes 54 Figure 3-9: Energy Corridors 55 Figure 3-10: Mining Claims 56 Figure 3-11: Fatality Trend Analysis – National 59 and State of Nevada
Chapter 5
Figure 5-1: FAST Projects 78 Figure 5-2: Park and Ride/HOV Projects 79 Figure 5-3: Investment Strategy – Resort Corridor 85 Figure 5-4: Investment Strategy – I-15 South 88 Figure 5-5: Investment Strategy – 91 Southwest Las Vegas Valley
Figure 5-6: Investment Strategy – 92 North Las Vegas Valley
Figure 5-7: Investment Strategy – 94 Southeast Las Vegas Valley
Figure 5-8: Investment Strategy – 94 Southeast Las Vegas Valley
Figure 5-9: RTP Projects – Street & Highway Projects, 99 Figure 5-10: RTP Projects - ITS Projects, and 101 Operational Improvements
Figure 5-11: RTP Projects - Transit Projects 103 and Park and Ride Projects
Figure 5-12: RTP Projects in Boulder City, Laughlin, 105 and Mesquite
Figure 5-13: Unfunded needs 107
Chapter 6
Figure 6-1: Funding Chart 109 Figure 6-2: Non-Attainment Areas 115 Figure 6-3: Disabled Population by Census Tract 120 Figure 6-4: Elderly Population by Census Tract 120 Figure 6-5: Limited English Proficiency 121 Population by Census Tract
Figure 6-6: Minority Population by Census Tract 121 Figure 6-7: Low-Income Population by Census Tract 121
Appendices and
Supporting Documents
Regional Transportation Plan Appendices
1 Transportation Capital Program Projects
2 Public Participation Plan and Consultation on the RTP
3 Regional Forecasts
4 Travel Demand Model Methodology and
Air Quality Conformity Documentation
5 Funding Assumptions and Fund Source Balance Sheets
6 Acronyms
7 RTP Graphics
Regional Transportation Plan Supporting Documents
Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
High-Occupancy Vehicle Lane Plan
What is the Regional
Transportation Commission
of Southern Nevada?
With more than 2 million people living in South-ern Nevada and another 39 million tourists visit-ing our community annually, keepvisit-ing up with the increasing demands on the local transportation system and infrastructure requires innovation and long-range planning. The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) is tasked with meeting this challenge while providing a safe, convenient and effective regional transportation system that enhances mobility and air quality for citizens and visitors.
The RTC is both the transit authority and the trans-portation planning agency for Southern Nevada. The agency’s governing body is comprised of rep-resentatives from Clark County as well as the cities of Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas.
The RTC functions as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the region, designated un-der feun-deral regulation by the governor of Nevada. The MPO is responsible for overseeing the trans-portation planning process for the region. In addition, the RTC directs funding generated from various local, state and federal funds for transportation purposes.
Executive Summary
The RTC is also the regional transit agency provid-ing service for the general public and paratransit services for disabled persons. The agency also promotes transportation demand management programming through the Club Ride program. Finally, the RTC operates the Freeway and Arterial System of Transportation (FAST), one of the first truly integrated Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) organizations in the country. FAST monitors and controls traffic in the valley.
What is the Regional
Transportation Plan and
why is it necessary?
The Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) is a com-prehensive and long-range plan for the transpor-tation system in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. It details the transportation investment needed between now and the year 2030. The RTP is also the guiding document for making the best use of federal transportation funds.
The RTC is required by federal law to update the RTP every four years. While the current RTP was approved in 2006, it needs to be updated now to reflect revenue changes. From 2005 to 2006, local revenues were rising. Federal funding was stable, and the state was considering new initiatives to address anticipated funding shortfalls in transpor-tation.
Today, federal, state and local funding is running well short of what is needed.
Urban growth in Clark County has slowed down but not stopped. Major developments are likely to accelerate growth again in the near future. In the longer term, recently updated population forecasts indicate that by 2030 the economy of the area will support a population that is almost double what it is now. This growth will result in an ever-increasing volume of traffic on our roadways. The RTC determined that it needed to reevaluate what can be done with present revenue streams and to identify the challenges faced with increased demand for travel at a time of static resources.
ES2 R E G I O N A L T R A N S P O R T AT I O N C O M M I S S I O N O F S O U T H E R N N E V A D A
What is the RTC’s vision
for transportation in
Southern Nevada?
The explosive growth of Clark County directly impacts transportation needs. The RTC has obtained local funding sources to help alleviate traffic congestion and air quality problems. These funds, along with those from the state and federal governments, have been used to develop better traffic signals and more travel lanes. However, alle-viating traffic congestion is more than just adding capacity and infrastructure on the roads.
SAFETEA-LU requires planning, evaluation and maintenance of non-motorized travel in metropoli-tan areas. The current federal legislation encour-ages major cities to look at increasing the mobility of their citizens by providing safe and convenient transportation options for all.
The RTC’s vision is to “provide a safe, convenient and effective regional transportation system that enhances mobility and air quality for citizens and visitors.”
R E G I O N A L T R A N S P O R T AT I O N P L A N 2 0 0 9 - 2 0 3 0 ES3
Along with this vision, the RTC has set the following long-range goals:
w Implement transportation systems that im-prove air quality and protect the environment
w Reduce greenhouse gas carbon footprint
w Provide for urban sustainability
w Develop fully integrated modal options
w Enhance the efficiency of existing transportation facilities
w Improve access to mass transportation
facilities and services
w Secure funding for expansion, operation and maintenance of transportation systems and routes
w Enhance public awareness and support of the
regional transportation system
w Improve safety for all travelers w Improve security for all travelers
w Support more efficient freight movement
What has the RTC
accomplished?
Since 1990, the RTC and its partner agencies have multiple transportation accomplishments that have responded to the tremendous growth in the Las Vegas Valley.
In 17 years, the local population has grown by 133 percent, adding nearly 1 million new residents in the Las Vegas Valley. Local traffic volumes grew even faster, with a 157 percent increase since 1992. The RTC directed local revenues generated by two Question 10 initiatives in 1992 and 2001 to numer-ous roadway projects sponsored by Clark County and the incorporated cities in the region. Other projects have been funded by the Nevada Depart-ment of Transportation (NDOT) using both federal program funds and the proceeds of the state gas tax.
The streets and highways program has widened the existing U.S. 95 freeway through Las Vegas, added the state’s first carpool lanes and constructed the Las Vegas Beltway, a four-lane divided highway wrapping around the Las Vegas Valley. The pro-gram has also developed various interchanges and transformed Desert Inn Road into a superarterial for east-west travel through the middle of Las Vegas.
In 1992, the RTC assumed responsibility from a private operator to manage public transit services in the Las Vegas area. RTC Transit also manages the ADA-compliant paratransit service and Silver Star routes serving senior citizens.
Annual local transit ridership has increased from 22 million in 1994 to more than 62 million today. Rid-ership on the popular Deuce double-deck buses, which replaced conventional bus service along the Las Vegas Strip in recent years, has now exceeded 30,000 passengers per day.
The 2001 Question 10 ballot initiative also provid-ed funding for the FAST regional traffic manage-ment system that monitors and analyzes real-time traffic conditions on the freeways, major arterials
and roadways through closed-circuit television cameras and road sensors. This funding helped optimize traffic signal timing for more than 1,000 miles of well-traveled local roadways.
In 2006, the RTC enhanced the FAST system by providing public access to several of the 75 live traffic cameras via the RTC’s Web site. The cam-eras allow drivers to check road conditions before they leave their home or office. On the road, driv-ers are assisted in their travels with 15 ramp me-ters, 20 dynamic message signs and the Freeway Motorists Assistance Service Patrol.
RTC has also expanded the South Strip Transit Terminal by adding 100 park and ride spaces – which have become especially popular with local residents using McCarran International Airport.
ES4 R E G I O N A L T R A N S P O R T AT I O N C O M M I S S I O N O F S O U T H E R N N E V A D A Legend Transit Maintenance Transit Center New Interchange Interchange Improvement Bridge Pedestrian Bridge BRT Line Carpool Lanes Grade Separated Freeway Other New Road Major Improvement
Congestion management
and mobility
Challenges facing the RTC
Southern Nevada continues to be one of the fast-est growing urbanized areas in the country. This rapid population and employment growth poses obvious challenges for the RTC.
A high density of residential development in all parts of the Las Vegas Valley and a high concentra-tion of jobs in the resort corridor, combined with a limited network of freeways and dependence on arterial streets, has resulted in increased travel demand and traffic congestion in the Las Vegas area. This puts pressure on the local transportation system.
Right-of-way is limited within the developed area to expand existing facilities or add new ones. And construction costs are rising faster than revenues, especially during this current economic slowdown. The automobile remains the dominant form of transportation in the Las Vegas area with vehicular travel accounting for about 90 percent of all trips made on local roadways.
Each day in Clark County, more than 100 cars are added to the roadways. Total daily miles traveled on the roadway network has increased from 12 mil-lion in 1990 to more than 33 milmil-lion miles in 2008. When visitor volumes are taken into consideration, the impact on the infrastructure is more challeng-ing than many other metro areas.
Visitor volumes, projected to be about 39 million in 2008, have grown every year except for 2001 following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Auto traffic coming from California on I-15 has increased 37 percent over the last decade, from an average of 29,530 vehicles per day in 1996 to an average of 40,383 vehicles per day in 2006.
In light of the challenges posed by continued growth and tourism, one fact is evident: the state, the RTC and the local governments in Southern Nevada currently do not have the financial re-sources needed to adequately provide for our future transportation needs.
Various options are being considered at both the federal and state level, including increases in fuel and other taxes, tolling, congestion pricing, an expanded role for the private sector.
Currently, the RTC must plan based on the present system of funding, while keeping its options open for alternatives to transportation and other sources of funding.
Key approaches to addressing
transportation challenges
The RTC has identified four main approaches that will be key to addressing these challenges. First is to improve the operational efficiency of ex-isting roadways to improve capacity without major capital expense. The Freeway and Arterial System of Transportation (FAST) system is central to these improvements.
A second approach to addressing the challenges facing transportation in the Las Vegas Valley is to shift as many people as possible out of single-oc-cupant vehicles by encouraging the use of carpools and vanpools and other measures collectively known as “Travel Demand Management” (TDM). TDM involves providing parking lots for transit rid-ers, carpooling, vanpooling and promoting flexible work schedules.
Third, the RTC is looking to improve transit options to provide attractive alternatives to the automobile. The RTC recognizes the need for improvements in the transit service that goes beyond fleet renewal and maintenance of present operations.
To make transit more attractive to a wider range of people, the RTC must face two main challenges. First, the system has to be made faster – much faster – and even more reliable. Second, the expe-rience of riding transit has to be improved.
Finally, the fourth way the RTC is addressing local transportation challenges is to make the environ-ment friendlier for those on foot or riding bicycles, so that these transportation options become more attractive for people taking short trips.
ES6 R E G I O N A L T R A N S P O R T AT I O N C O M M I S S I O N O F S O U T H E R N N E V A D A
The coordinated traffic signal timing that FAST cre-ates, implements and keeps up to date on arterial streets keeps traffic flowing on all major travel cor-ridors by minimizing unnecessary delays and stops. FAST, in conjunction with the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) also includes an extensive Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) infrastructure on the region’s freeways, which include closed-circuit television cameras, dynamic message signs, non-intrusive video image detection, ramp meters, and a Highway Advisory Radio system.
Improving operational efficiency also includes access management, incident management and freight movement. Access management provides vehicular access to local developments in a man-ner that preserves the safety and efficiency of the transportation system.
Managing incidents such as construction proj-ects, malfunctioning traffic signals, special events, unusual weather or accidents is important to the flow of traffic. What matters is how effectively the responsible agencies deal with the situation and, for the bigger incidents, how well the traveling public is informed of what has happened and how it may affect them.
Within Clark County, improving freight movement may be most efficiently accomplished by improving and maintaining the existing transportation system. Of particular importance to freight will be invest-ments in interstate highways, rail and airports that will reduce congestion.
R E G I O N A L T R A N S P O R T AT I O N P L A N 2 0 0 9 - 2 0 3 0 ES7
The RTC has a balanced planning approach relying on all modes of travel to improve regional mobility. Cycling has been identified as an essential element in the suite of strategies to accommodate travel demand. The development and maintenance of pedestrian facilities, such as sidewalks, is also im-portant to mobility.
Other transportation issues the RTC is keeping in mind include safety, security, air quality, natural resources, cultural/historical resources, community impacts, and maintenance of the existing transpor-tation infrastructure.
The RTC is aware of its responsibility to provide a sustainable transportation system. In promoting alternative transportation modes such as transit, walking and biking, local residents can help in re-ducing air pollution and single-occupancy car trips, improving health for adults and children.
Funding assumptions and
investment strategy
Funding assumptions
The basic purpose of the RTP is to provide an in-vestment strategy that represents the priorities of local and state transportation agencies for meet-ing regional goals based on reasonable assump-tions of available resources
The Nevada Department of Transportation has as-sumed significant new revenue sources at the state level, and that has enabled the RTC to identify several major expansion projects to local freeways. However, the RTC believes that the responsible course is to base the RTP on a continuation of present revenue sources. The plan has not pre-sumed new sources of revenue based on future actions of either the voters or the legislature. Over the plan period from 2009 to 2030, the RTP investment strategy is projected to cost $16.1 bil-lion in year-of-expenditure terms.
Revenues to support transportation investments come from a variety of public, tax-based sources, raised at either the local, state or federal level. These same sources typically also have to cover the operation and maintenance of the existing system.
The RTC Streets and Highway Capital Improve-ment Program is funded through the Clark County gas tax. At a rate of nine cents per gallon, the gas tax currently yields $70 million a year.
ES8 R E G I O N A L T R A N S P O R T AT I O N C O M M I S S I O N O F S O U T H E R N N E V A D A
A local sales and use tax established in 1991, supplemented through Question 10 in 2001, and was dedicated to the operation of the public tran-sit system. This funding yields about $130 million annually to support transit, paratransit operations and capital improvements. An additional $50 mil-lion is raised from transit fares.
Federal transit programs provide $25 million a year for capital investments, including the purchase and replacement of the vehicle fleet.
The RTC is responsible for prioritizing projects under two federal programs. The urban element of the Surface Transportation Program (STP-Clark) provides $21 million a year and can be used for a wide range of transportation projects. The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (CMAQ) provides $15 million a year for projects that have demonstrable air quality benefits. RTC and the local entities have agreed to make use of revenue bonds secured against gas and sales tax revenues. This will enable a number of the more urgent projects to be completed during approximately the next five years. After that time, there will be a lull in new activity until the bonds are paid off and new or additional funding is avail-able.
Investment strategy
Given current financial challenges and uncertain-ties about the future, RTC and local jurisdictions have focused on investing in future plans and programs that will make a big difference to the mobility of people and goods in the region. Due to changed projections about future costs and funding, several of the projects identified in the previous RTP have not been carried forward but are instead identified as unfunded needs. The RTC knows that addressing congestion in the core of the region requires a mix of multi-modal and operational strategies.
Travel demand management
U.S. 95 is an attractive corridor for carpool lanes and express transit. The first investment in car-pool lanes in this region was made as part of the recently completed improvements on U.S. 95 west of downtown Las Vegas.
The next priority for managing congestion is to build upon this investment, establishing a carpool lane network connecting the northwest suburban areas to downtown Las Vegas and the northern end of the Las Vegas Strip via I-15. This network includes dedicated High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) ramps between major routes, as well as direct ac-cess ramps to allow HOV traffic to bypass con-gested freeway intersections. The northwest HOV network will be supported by park and ride lots at key locations.
The RTP identifies these investment areas as:
w U.S.95 from Rainbow Boulevard to Durango Drive
w Summerlin Parkway from Rampart
Boulevard to U.S.95
w Direct HOV ramps between Summerlin
Parkway and U.S. 95
w Direct HOV ramps between U.S. 95 and I-15
w HOV-only access on U.S. 95 at Elkhorn Road w HOV-only access on I-15 at Oakey Boulevard Park and ride lots at:
w U.S. 95 and Durango Drive
w Westcliff Drive near Summerlin Parkway
w Las Vegas Blvd. and St. Rose Parkway
ES10 R E G I O N A L T R A N S P O R T AT I O N C O M M I S S I O N O F S O U T H E R N N E V A D A
Traffic operational improvements
and ITS technology
The most effective way of increasing the capacity of the system in congested areas is by optimizing traffic signals.
Eleven projects have been identified for invest-ment within the FAST system focusing on the regional freeway network, supplemented by the interconnection of signals on major arterial streets. These projects include:
w I-15 North from the Spaghetti Bowl
to Craig Road
w I-215 and Lake Mead Parkway from Green Valley Parkway to Boulder Highway
w Rancho Drive from Sahara Avenue to Rainbow Boulevard
w Durango Drive from CC 215 to
Desert Inn Road
w Tropicana Avenue from Rainbow Boulevard to Las Vegas Boulevard
w I-515 from CC 215 to Charleston Boulevard w I-15 from St. Rose Parkway to CC 215 w U.S. 93 from Boulder City to I-515
w I-15 from the California state line
to St. Rose Parkway
w U.S. 95 from Durango Drive to
Kyle Canyon Road
w I-15 from Craig Road to Apex
Investments in these corridors include new or upgraded fiber optic communications, traffic monitoring cameras, dynamic message signs, ramp metering at selected locations and elec-tronic vehicle counting. FAST also plans to expand the coverage of traffic monitoring cameras on the arterial system.
R E G I O N A L T R A N S P O R T AT I O N P L A N 2 0 0 9 - 2 0 3 0 ES11
Public transportation improvements
The RTP includes several capital expenditures related to the basic transit system:
w A new transit center to serve downtown Las Vegas
w Completion of the Sunset Maintenance Facility w Replacement of buses as they reach the end of their service life
w Allowance for future rehabilitation of transit centers and maintenance facilities
To maintain federally mandated service standards, the fleet of paratransit vans will have to be in-creased. The RTP includes replacement of para-transit vans as they reach the end of their service life, expansion of the fleet and the addition of vehicles designed to meet the special needs of the senior population.
RTC also intends to build upon the success of its initial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line by adding bus lanes in several key corridors and by construct-ing stations and other amenities to extend BRT in mixed traffic operations where dedicated lanes cannot be created. Funded investments include:
w ACE Downtown Connector rapid transit route
in Downtown Las Vegas
w Enhancements to shelters on the
Las Vegas Strip
w ACE Boulder Highway rapid transit, partially indedicated lanes and partly in mixed traffic
w Creation of dedicated lanes as part of the North Fifth Street project
w Provision of BRT stations on North Fifth Street
and Las Vegas Boulevard South
RTC has recently decided that express transit offers the most efficient and cost-effective way of making transit more competitive with auto travel in the Las Vegas area. Several project areas have been identified in the RTP.
ES12 R E G I O N A L T R A N S P O R T AT I O N C O M M I S S I O N O F S O U T H E R N N E V A D A
In addition to the development of express service within the valley, there is a need for improved transit links between Las Vegas and some of the outlying communities. The RTP includes the devel-opment of express services that link the Las Vegas Valley with the outlying areas of Laughlin, Search-light, Mesquite, Glendale and Logandale.
Additional system capacity
I-15 between Southern California and Salt Lake City has been designated by federal authorities as a “Corridor of the Future.”
Plans for this I-15 corridor include widening the interstate within existing right-of-way, although NDOT estimates it will cost at least $2 billion to accomplish what is needed. Even with the en-hanced revenues assumed by NDOT, it will be late in the plan period before many of the projects along I-15 can be implemented.
In addition to the I-15 projects, funded projects in the Las Vegas resort corridor are:
w Grade separation of Oakey Boulevard at the Union Pacific Railroad crossing
w CC 215 improvements at the airport connector interchange
w ACE Rapid Transit Downtown Connector w Las Vegas Monorail extension to the airport
w A new downtown transit terminal at Bonneville Avenue and Casino Center Drive
w Express bus system development w New pedestrian bridges over Las Vegas Boulevard at Sahara Avenue, and at the Echelon and Project CityCenter sites and over the railroad tracks in downtown Las Vegas
w Extension of Martin Luther King Boulevard
across I-15 to connect with Industrial Road and widening of Industrial south to Sahara
w Grade separation at Valley View Boulevard
and the railroad and roadway improvements to Harmon Avenue from Valley View to UNLV
w Grade separation of Tropicana Avenue at Dean Martin Drive and widening from Decatur Boulevard to I-15
w Construction of Sunset Road across I-15 w Construction of City Parkway to connect Grand Central Parkway with I-15 at D Street
R E G I O N A L T R A N S P O R T AT I O N P L A N 2 0 0 9 - 2 0 3 0 ES13
Summary of Regional Strategic Investments included in the
2009-2030 Regional Transportation Plan
Total
Regional Strategic Investments $13.303 billion
Street and Highway improvements $11.261 billion
I-15 from the CA State Line to Sloan Rd: widen to 8 lanes $200m I-15 from Sloan Rd to Tropicana Ave: Widen to 10 lanes 1043
I-15 south: New interchanges 406
I-15 resort corridor: Widen and add carpool lanes 878
I-15 Project Neon 1080
I-515 from College Dr to I-15: Widen to 10 lanes; new interchanges 3184 US 93/US 95 from US 95 interchange to I-515 at Foothills: Construct 4-lane freeway 237 US 95 from Rainbow Blvd to SR.157: Widen and add carpool lanes 463 SR 160 Blue Diamond Rd from Decatur Blvd to Mountain Springs: Widening 125 SR 564 Lake Mead Pkwy from Boulder Hwy to Lake Las Vegas: Widen to 6 lanes 41 CC 215 Bruce Woodbury Beltway: Upgrade to full freeway 1209 Ivanpah Airport access roads and interchanges 381 (A) Laughlin: Construct new bridge across the Colorado River 64 Martin Luther King Blvd from Industrial Rd south of Oakey Blvd to north of Alta Dr:
Construct 6-lane roadway and overpass across I-15 750 North 5th St from Owens Ave to CC 215: Construct 8-lane road with interchanges 287 Oakey Blvd/ Wyoming Ave: Construct grade separation at UPRR 78 Sheep Mtn Pkwy from CC 215 to US 95: Construct 4-lane road and interchanges 183 Summerlin Pkwy from CC 215 to US 95: Widen to 8 lanes including carpool lanes 100
Tropicana Ave from Decatur Blvd to I-15: Widen and grade separate at Dean Martin Dr 169 Other street and highway projects 382
ITS deployment and operational improvements $387 million
I-515 from I-215 to Charleston Blvd: FAST ITS deployment $22m Regional freeway and arterial ITS system development 144
Intersection and signal improvements 47
NDOT freeway service patrol and incident management 49
NDOT FAST system operations 125
Transit capital improvements, including Park-and-Ride $1.537 billion
Boulder Hwy: Bus Rapid Transit $72m
Las Vegas Monorail from McCarran Airport to MGM Grand: Extend Monorail 450 (M)
Las Vegas Blvd South: Bus Rapid Transit 13
North 5th St: Bus Rapid Transit 13
RTC Transit: system development 31
Park-and-Ride and transit center development 29
RTC Transit: bus and paratransit fleet expansion and replacement 853
Other transit projects 77
Alternate mode, environmental and air quality improvements $118 million
RTC “Club Ride” Travel Demand Management program $36m
Emissions reduction projects 27
Bicycle facilities and pedestrian improvements 40
Other environmental improvement projects 16
Non-regionally significant projects not listed in the RTP $2.261 billion
Total Transportation Capital Program, 2009-2030 $15.564 billion
(A) Funded by the Clark County Department of Aviation (M) Funded by the Las Vegas Monorail Company
