Carson City RTC to review budget proposals

The Carson City Regional Transportation Commission on Wednesday will review the proposed budgets for funds overseen by the commission in preparation for the city’s fiscal year 2025 budget.

The city’s entire tentative budget will be reviewed April 18 during the Board of Supervisors meeting with a final budget hearing set for May. The new fiscal year starts July 1.

The RTC convenes after the CAMPO meeting that starts 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the board room of the community center, 851 E. William St. Commissioners will review proposed 2025 budgets for the Regional Transportation, Transit, CAMPO and Street Maintenance funds.

The RTC Fund budget for infrastructure projects is proposed to be about $5.1 million with no supplemental requests, i.e., new costs, according to budget documents. The Transit Fund budget for Jump Around Carson is proposed to be around $2.1 million (nearly $93,000 in supplemental requests); the CAMPO Fund budget for regional planning and projects is proposed to be approximately $699,803 (no supplemental requests); and the Street Maintenance Fund for road maintenance and repairs is projected to be around $6.1 million (with $7,908 in supplemental requests).

In other action:

• RTC members will consider interim measures like metering signals for the 5th Street Roundabout Improvement Project, which aims to reconstruct the existing roundabout at East 5th Street and Fairview Drive.

“Because of the cost of the needed improvements and budgetary constraints, the RTC directed staff to defer the installation of the proposed roundabout improvements and instead evaluate potential interim measures until sufficient funding can be identified and secured,” reads a staff report. “Staff has explored interim measures to improve the traffic operation of the roundabout. With consultant support, measures analyzed placed an emphasis on making small improvements to individual approaches rather than to the whole intersection. Measures included utilizing channelized right turn lanes and using metering signals on certain approaches to space vehicles farther apart.”

However, staff is recommending not to purse interim solutions and instead pursue “full buildout” through Community Project Funding. RTC members had directed staff to pause the roundabout project and look at temporary measures back on May 10, 2023, according to the staff report. In March, RTC members approved a request from staff to seek $3 million in federal funding for the project.

• RTC members will consider amending a contract with Hansford Economic Consulting to allow an $18,645 increase — for a new total not to exceed $114,920.

Hansford was hired in 2021 to explore road-funding solutions as the city faces an estimated $21 million funding gap between revenue (mostly fuels and sales tax) and maintenance needs on an aging road network.

“The amendment’s expanded scope will allow Hansford Consulting to support staff through the completion of the local roads funding project and includes finalization and presentation of all major funding options considered,” reads a staff report.

Ballot proposals to raise more money for neighborhood streets, including a supplemental government services tax and a new sales tax, are expected to go to the Board of Supervisors this spring. If approved by the board, the proposals would appear on the November ballot.

• RTC members will consider amending an agreement between the RTC and the Nevada Department of Transportation for the West Carson Vulnerable User Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project.

The amendment would add $500,000 in federal funding with a $26,316 increase in the city’s 5 percent local match. It would also extend the life of the agreement to June 30, 2028.

The project entails pedestrian sidewalk and roadway improvements near Carson Middle School and Bordewich Bray Elementary School, according to the agenda.

“Carson City requested $1,500,000 in federal CDS funds under the Highway Infrastructure Program as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022,” reads a staff report. “It was initially believed by both NDOT and RTC staff that Carson City was only awarded $1,000,000 of the original request. Following a review of the notice of award and coordination with NDOT’s financial services division, the additional $500,000 was awarded to Carson City and is available for incorporation into the project’s agreement.”