Governor pushes road funding plan

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Jim Gibbons urged lawmakers on Monday to approve a transportation funding plan before they adjourn next month, and he released a list of projects that would be constructed over the next eight years if additional road money is made available.

The vast majority of the funding sought by Gibbons would be spent on projects in Southern Nevada, including the widening of Interstate 15 north of the Spaghetti Bowl to Craig Road, widening U.S. Highway 95 from Washington Avenue to Craig Road and the construction of two interchanges linking the Las Vegas Beltway to I-15 and to U.S. 95.

So far, Gibbons' plan to fund nearly $3.1 billion in road improvement projects has not garnered a lot of support.

Funding is currently available for only a small portion of the plan; Gibbons previously earmarked $170 million in surplus funds for the widening of I-15 north of its interchange with U.S. 95. The Legislature, however, has not yet acted on the proposal.

Gibbons said that project and the others he identified are needed "to keep transportation alive and moving in the state of Nevada," but all the other projects will be on hold unless a road funding plan is developed.

The other Las Vegas area projects on the list include widening I-15 south from the Spaghetti Bowl to Tropicana Avenue, widening I-15 from Tropicana to state Route 160 and realigning interchanges on Interstate 515 to U.S. 95 near Railroad Pass.

Under Gibbons' plan unveiled May 10, the state highway fund would receive almost $784 million over the next eight years from growth in three revenue streams: room taxes, taxes on motor vehicle sales and the live entertainment tax. The plan would underwrite $2.5 billion in bonds to be used for the road projects.

The proposal has been criticized by those affected by the diversions in tax revenue, including the Nevada Resort Association, which is opposed to the use of room taxes for road construction.

Gibbons said he is now working with lawmakers to develop a final plan before a bill is introduced in the waning days of the legislative session. The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn June 4.

Gibbons defended his plan and said its critics need to put up or shut up.

"I would challenge any of them, if they think this process is easy, give me their plan, give me their proposals," he said. "Don't be critical of us. Put something on paper."

Without new funding, the projects won't be built anytime soon, Gibbons said.

"I'm willing to consider some alternative ideas," he said. "But I will not consider going out and raising gas taxes or the weight distance taxes or taxes on vehicle registration or driver's license taxes that I've heard form a lot of people out there. That's just not going to be in this process."

Gibbons said his staff is talking to gaming representatives and others about his funding plan in an effort to reach consensus. But Gibbons said he remains committed to spending a portion of the increased revenue in room taxes on roads.

Those who rely on the funding will not be harmed, he said.

"We're cutting no one's base budget, all we're doing is changing the glide path of that revenue increase," he said.

Bill Bible, president of the Nevada Resort Association, said Monday that as far as he knew, the governor had not had any discussions with his members about the use of room tax revenues for roads.

"I think everything is in flux and everyone is working on plans," Bible said.

State Transportation Director Susan Martinovich has acknowledged that Gibbons' plan, which would only fill half the road funding deficit over the next eight years, probably would result in some state highway projects being postponed to after 2015.

Martinovich said the projects listed by Gibbons will provide the greatest benefit for the cost, which is why they have become the priorities.

Paul Enos of the Nevada Motor Transport Association, which represents truckers, said he was glad to hear that Gibbons and his administration "are implementing a benefit-cost analysis" as part of the transportation funding plan.

Gibbons urged action this session because delays only add to the cost of the improvements because of the inflationary factors in road construction.