In order to adequately support Nevada’s economic recovery and provide for additional economic growth, the Silver State will need to make numerous improvements to its surface transportation system. This is according to a new report released March 23 by TRIP, a Washington, D.C.-based national transportation research organization.
TRIP’s report, “The Top 40 Surface Transportation Projects to Support Economic Growth in Nevada,” identifies and ranks the projects most needed to provide Nevada with a transportation system that can support the increased movement of people, goods and resources throughout the state. The most-needed surface transportation improvements in Nevada include 31 projects to build, expand or modernize highways, five projects to improve public transit or provide intermodal facilities and four projects to improve the state’s traffic-management system. These improvements would enhance economic development opportunities throughout the state by increasing mobility and freight movement, easing congestion and making Nevada a more attractive place to live, visit and do business.
“We appreciate the efforts of the TRIP organization in bringing to the public the importance of transportation,” Nevada Department of Transportation Director Susan Martinovich said. “And we will continue to work with our partners across the state to provide a reliable and safe transportation system.”
Enhancing critical segments of Nevada’s surface transportation system will boost the state’s economy in the short term by creating jobs in construction and related fields. In the long term these improvements will enhance economic competitiveness by reducing travel delays and transportation costs, improving access and mobility, improving safety and stimulating sustained job growth, improving the quality of life for the state’s residents and visitors.
“These projects are key to turning around our economy. Investing in transportation projects will immediately create private-sector jobs and leave us with assets that our community can use for decades to come. We can’t afford not to make the investment now,” said Jacob Snow, general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.
TRIP ranked each transportation project based on a rating system that considered the following: short-term economic benefits, including job creation; the level of improvement in the condition of the transportation facility, including safety improvements; the degree of improvement in access and mobility; and the long-term improvement provided in regional or state economic performance and competitiveness.
