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BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal
The neon stars which illuminate the way to the new Galaxy 10 movie theater at Casino Fandango are attracting droves to check out the region's only digital theater; but the beckoning neon isn't the only bright light in the neighborhood.
Movie buffs who've frequented the state-of-the-art stadium along with traffic enforcement officials say during peak hours brakelights can light the path to the Galaxy.
The congestion, back-ups and the fender benders: Are they growing pains of a new attraction that will taper with time, or are these problems here to stay on the surface arteries coming off Highway 395 in South Carson?
Transportation officials said it may be a little bit of both, but the 10-screen multiplex is not solely to blame.
"Traffic has been going up there for some time because of development in general," said NDOT spokesman Scott Magruder, who referred to NDOT statistics showing traffic counts have averaged 47,000 cars per day on 395 over the last two years.
"The traffic count has always gone up historically - that's why we've been planning the Carson freeway for 30 years.
Movie buffs who've frequented the state-of-the-art stadium along with traffic enforcement officials say during peak hours brakelights can light the path to the Galaxy.
The congestion, back-ups and the fender benders: Are they growing pains of a new attraction that will taper with time, or are these problems here to stay on the surface arteries coming off Highway 395 in South Carson?
Transportation officials said it may be a little bit of both, but the 10-screen multiplex is not solely to blame.
"Traffic has been going up there for some time because of development in general," said NDOT spokesman Scott Magruder, who referred to NDOT statistics showing traffic counts have averaged 47,000 cars per day on 395 over the last two years.
"The traffic count has always gone up historically - that's why we've been planning the Carson freeway for 30 years.
"Right now, we've got three lanes in each direction there, but the traffic in that area, especially with the new theater, I'm not sure how much it's going to be siphoned off in the immediate future."
Galaxy Theaters president Rafe Cohen said in its first 11 days the theater drew 25,000 patrons, which "far exceeded expectations."
Though the Sherman Oaks, Calf.-based Cohen said he was unaware of any traffic congestion problems near the theater, he said the completion of the sky bridge from the Fandango Casino parking garage to the theater later this year should help alleviate any parking and pedestrian woes.
Summer blockbuster season is also predicted to be the theater's high point for usage this year, Cohen said.
"There's a lot of seasonality to the theater business," he said. "What you can tell from this start is that this theater will do well and the community's embracing it."
After a recent visit to the theater to catch a weekday matinee, Carson City resident Jeannine Kechely said she's already brought her children to the theater "multiple times" and touts its close proximity to her home as one reason why.
"We live right up the hill - it's so nice to have a new theater right by us," she said.
Galaxy Theaters president Rafe Cohen said in its first 11 days the theater drew 25,000 patrons, which "far exceeded expectations."
Though the Sherman Oaks, Calf.-based Cohen said he was unaware of any traffic congestion problems near the theater, he said the completion of the sky bridge from the Fandango Casino parking garage to the theater later this year should help alleviate any parking and pedestrian woes.
Summer blockbuster season is also predicted to be the theater's high point for usage this year, Cohen said.
"There's a lot of seasonality to the theater business," he said. "What you can tell from this start is that this theater will do well and the community's embracing it."
After a recent visit to the theater to catch a weekday matinee, Carson City resident Jeannine Kechely said she's already brought her children to the theater "multiple times" and touts its close proximity to her home as one reason why.
"We live right up the hill - it's so nice to have a new theater right by us," she said.
The mother of three also voiced concern about what she sees as a "growing traffic problem" on the nearby intersection of Clearview and Curry streets - the main roads feeding into the theater.
"That intersection really bothers me," she said. "All people are flying up and down Curry and they just blast through that intersection. A couple accidents from now and they're going to have to put in a four-way stoplight."
Carson City transportation engineer Harvey Brotzman said his office ran through all the possible traffic scenarios and made changes to the arterial streets prior to the theater's opening.
"Starting down the intersection of Koontz and Curry, we pulled the fence back on the lot and a two-lane roadway with a lot of capacity was constructed," he said. "Once Fandango gets their (sky bridge) built people will park at one place and walk to the other."
To be sure the city has done enough, a car count will take place the weekend after Labor Day, Brotzman said.
"We'll see what the (traffic) volumes are before and after the theater," he said. "Then we'll decide if any adjustments are necessary."
Brotzman admitted the daily flow of traffic monitored by the city is from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday - not necessarily the same high point of moviegoers trying to make their way to the new cinema.
"That intersection really bothers me," she said. "All people are flying up and down Curry and they just blast through that intersection. A couple accidents from now and they're going to have to put in a four-way stoplight."
Carson City transportation engineer Harvey Brotzman said his office ran through all the possible traffic scenarios and made changes to the arterial streets prior to the theater's opening.
"Starting down the intersection of Koontz and Curry, we pulled the fence back on the lot and a two-lane roadway with a lot of capacity was constructed," he said. "Once Fandango gets their (sky bridge) built people will park at one place and walk to the other."
To be sure the city has done enough, a car count will take place the weekend after Labor Day, Brotzman said.
"We'll see what the (traffic) volumes are before and after the theater," he said. "Then we'll decide if any adjustments are necessary."
Brotzman admitted the daily flow of traffic monitored by the city is from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday - not necessarily the same high point of moviegoers trying to make their way to the new cinema.
"I don't see the daily count numbers changing much," the traffic engineer said. "But it won't be a straight-line comparison to someone getting off work Friday and going to the theater or casino."
Notwithstanding, Brotzman said he was confident the roads have been built to "more than handle" increased visits to the Fandango, which will also open a new 100-room Marriott Courtyard hotel, as well as a new Italian restaurant and courtyard space in the next 12 months.
"It's like this," Brotzman said. "The two-lane roadway on Curry can handle about 14,000 to 15,000 vehicles, I expect our car count to be 4,000 to 5,000 - so we've got plenty of room."
Traffic officials Magruder and Brotzman both said development in South Carson won't be limited to the Fandango, and residents need to be aware when driving in that end of town.
"It's all relative," Magruder said. "Just look at what's happened down in Vegas. Once the freeway opens (in 2011) there will be a lot less traffic on (surface) streets. So there is good news for motorists on the horizon."
• Contact reporter Andrew Pridgen at apridgen@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.
Notwithstanding, Brotzman said he was confident the roads have been built to "more than handle" increased visits to the Fandango, which will also open a new 100-room Marriott Courtyard hotel, as well as a new Italian restaurant and courtyard space in the next 12 months.
"It's like this," Brotzman said. "The two-lane roadway on Curry can handle about 14,000 to 15,000 vehicles, I expect our car count to be 4,000 to 5,000 - so we've got plenty of room."
Traffic officials Magruder and Brotzman both said development in South Carson won't be limited to the Fandango, and residents need to be aware when driving in that end of town.
"It's all relative," Magruder said. "Just look at what's happened down in Vegas. Once the freeway opens (in 2011) there will be a lot less traffic on (surface) streets. So there is good news for motorists on the horizon."
• Contact reporter Andrew Pridgen at apridgen@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.
