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By
Robert L. Candiotti According
to consistent information on the Internet, Nevada Legislature bills AB524 and SB206 - to authorize the Department of Transportation
to establish a "demonstration" toll road project in Clark County, Nevada - were shelved in Nevada's 2009 session
because no action was taken. Obviously, there was limited enthusiasm
for the basic concept of toll roads, as well as for the idea of privately funding the establishment
of pay-to-use roads. The state's 2009 session began in Carson
City on February 2, 2009. By the time April arrived, the Assembly's and Senate's toll road bills were both limping along
on the road to limbo.
| Photo of I-15 in Las Vegas by Duane Prokop |
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| The 2009 Nevada Legislature was not motivated by the state DOT's arguments for private toll roads. |
Per various journalistic reports, many Nevada lawmakers were critical and curt in their discussions about
the 19-mile demonstration toll road in Las Vegas that would connect U.S. Highway 95 and Interstate 215 with I-15.
They were skeptical and skittish about "public-private partnerships." Nevada Senator
Mike Schneider is reported in Las Vegas Review-Journal's March 20, 2009, article by Ed Vogel as saying the arrangements
can be called "pickpocket partnerships."
The Review-Journal
story states Nevada Department of Transportation Director Susan Martinovich is firm that Nevada must look to private
construction of roads because the state lacks its own funds to do so. Yet,
reports Vogel, Martinovich would not identify two private companies she says are interested in coming up with the costs for
private highway construction in Las Vegas.
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