[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6663491,"mediaKeyId","2390048-ac1ee75e96c07bd37968e8c1b1729b02","parentId",2390048,"title","Bill would raise rural counties' construction threshold and allow county crews to perform work after two failed bids; labor and contractors oppose","audioSeconds",2845,"startMs",3530000,"endMs",6375000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390048-ac1ee75e96c07bd37968e8c1b1729b02&start=3530&end=6375","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390048-ac1ee75e96c07bd37968e8c1b1729b02/thumbnail_3530000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6663491/Nevada/Bill-would-raise-rural-counties-construction-threshold-and-allow-county-crews-to-perform-work-after-two-failed-bids-labor-and-contractors-oppose","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663491-a91d92895d603d02a24cc330d22d68ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1775263127&Signature=gzHWhDX7LxV1dWJR1DLlusGC7RWLvlw3sgG7Rinip4SHt~T-CQ0hT1QWUtXOrRFzwRW0cBzQFvx2rdYO8XAGUunMKe0MtVftbOmF55pAqGZSV29WQtoYW~y1t4ao~zLqJ1aRcRtSckqP1vOTsPQZopKyB2L7IUv2bWiUJs4GP-59RwRTJp8alVlkcZb9aDTR3rnpSTU9UZkbkEPh1uDnkzAXHauETfqo6MGCM8N2tehe5hWM3AagNKxHXvtR~2WVtEWK4Ks~-vps5o3yiwfI58EmiKdoF9TFR3Zbi-XkY~JtsIiNgLdQ~jEgz1B3wbxYmt-bqqXRAEXmYB6dcIRt6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nevada Legislature","date","2025-02-25T23:19:51.42Z","article","Assembly Bill 84, presented Tuesday to the Assembly Committee on Growth and Infrastructure, would revise provisions governing county road projects by applying an inflation adjustment to a long-standing $250,000 threshold and by permitting county road departments to perform work with county forces if a project receives no bids after being advertised twice.

Assemblymember Greg Koenig (sponsor) said the $250,000 threshold, set about 15 years ago, no longer buys meaningful construction in rural counties. “Today, dollars $250,000 can only pave about 1,200 feet of road,” Koenig said. The bill would index the original $250,000 to the National Highway Construction Index to reflect current costs and would apply the adjustment only to counties with populations under 52,000.

Joseph Sanford, legal counsel for Churchill County, and Gary Fowkes, Churchill County road supervisor, told the committee rural jurisdictions sometimes receive no bids for planned projects and therefore lack an option to keep roads maintained. Sanford said the combined effect of the two provisions — the inflation adjuster and the ability to perform work in-house after two unsuccessful bid solicitations — would let counties maintain chip-seal and other recurring upkeep projects.

Sanford cited recent examples in the City of Fallon where projects estimated between about $1.4 million and $3.3 million received one or no bids when advertised under the existing procurement process; one project was rebid after consolidation with another and later received bids. He said indexing would raise the $250,000 threshold to roughly $547,570 based on the National Highway Construction Index and current prices.

Opposition testimony came from construction and labor organizations. Craig Madole, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of Nevada, said the 2013 law that originally limited county self-performance was adopted to prevent counties from taking complex construction work away from licensed private contractors. Bart Hyatt, president of A & K Earth Movers in Fallon, said contractors in the county do bid work and described cases where schedule constraints or specification problems — not contractor refusal — affected bidding outcomes.

Labor representatives — including the Nevada State AFL-CIO, Laborers Local 169, Ironworkers, Operating Engineers and other unions — urged rejection of AB 84, saying counties do not have the workforce or equipment to self-perform larger public projects and that public dollars should go to licensed contractors and prevailing-wage work. Committee members asked whether prevailing wage applied when counties self-perform projects; Joseph Sanford said county employees would be paid at their regular county rates when the county performs the work itself.

Koenig said the bill’s intent is narrow: to preserve road maintenance in rural counties while still giving private contractors two opportunities to bid. He offered to remove day-labor language if it eased concerns. The committee did not take a vote at the hearing; sponsors and opponents were encouraged to continue negotiations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2/25/2025 - Assembly Committee on Growth and Infrastructure","oneSentenceSummary","Assembly Bill 84 would update a long-standing $250,000 limit and let rural counties (population under 52,000) self-perform road projects if two consecutive bids fail. Supporters said it fixes a practical gap for maintenance; contractors and unions warned of safety, quality and policy concerns. No vote was taken at the committee hearing.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature NV, Nevada","taxId",78440,"location","Nevada","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6663497,"Assembly committee hears bill to allow Sparks, RTC to pursue toll-road demonstration to serve Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center",3441,137000,3578000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390048-ac1ee75e96c07bd37968e8c1b1729b02&start=137&end=3578","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390048-ac1ee75e96c07bd37968e8c1b1729b02/thumbnail_137000.jpg","/articles/6663497/Nevada/Assembly-committee-hears-bill-to-allow-Sparks-RTC-to-pursue-toll-road-demonstration-to-serve-Tahoe-Reno-Industrial-Center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663497-9a3794ff16a052b2c1df0d97f54331fa/orig.mp4?Expires=1775263127&Signature=lEWLLryJZut063DvTfcVdwuMcWlWa97h~oZxbCt9O8rgf3PXfVCtgNPx~ATZEfE1zXsv2PKEB7qDB-cQLu7mp4EVNUmnGSsQDy4XoLAEUNI8bozqEwvThEMsfcBrPgZOuUW0vbx6S16sV5DFUyLUjPwRjv06AVHpI7Fo1hRq83Gh4pj~1SwxiA1rwYUaJNrE0K-kJWiUgE9xB5I4sPyPw0P4wCYgrv3dkZh1-ROyd-7LLcrbkCrcglI2wcewU1NKk7KiJw7fmasHyzTLyk1W-vR6adN6z6KGUwylG8pjijZnkO6pIbJAX3Wc8e6mMacyh3WMiZx37nOoLMv~ep2A-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Nevada Assembly Committee on Growth and Infrastructure on Wednesday heard testimony on Assembly Bill 61, which would authorize the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County, the City of Sparks or another local government in Washoe County to establish a demonstration toll road connecting La Posada and USA Parkway.

Proponents said the toll-road option aims to reduce congestion and improve safety on Interstate 80 by providing an alternate access route to the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center (TRI). “This toll road is just a tool,” said Ed Lawson, Mayor of Sparks. “You shouldn't have to take your life in your hands to go to work.”

The bill is narrowly written, sponsors said, to apply only to the connection between La Posada and USA Parkway. Allison McCormick, Assistant City Manager for Sparks, summarized the bill's main provisions: it would permit registration renewal holds through DMV as an enforcement mechanism (referencing NRS chapter 484B), exempt toll-related property from property tax if held by the public partner, allow public-private partnerships (subject to a 40‑year maximum term), and require user-fee revenue to be deposited in the State Highway Fund and restricted to building, operating or maintaining highways in Washoe County.

Michael Hillerby, representing the City of Sparks, told the committee the measure is “enabling” legislation intended to let local officials and private partners evaluate whether a toll model “pencils” rather than obligating state highway funds. Hillerby said the legislation mirrors a 2011 measure used for the Boulder City bypass and provides negotiation and procurement rules specific to a toll demonstration project.

Supporters from the private sector and economic development organizations told the committee businesses at TRI and other employers are willing to help cover commuting costs for employees, and that improved access would support continued job growth. Brett Scalera of Strategies360, speaking for Neology Inc., described his company's tolling experience on other U.S. projects and said such projects have sometimes met or exceeded ridership and revenue projections. Chris Thompson, who has worked on TRI development, said TRI currently supports roughly 35,000 jobs and that frequent backups on I‑80 create delays of hours during peak incidents.

Opponents cautioned about risks tied to public-private partnerships, collections and the ultimate financial burden. Paul Enos, identifying himself as CEO of the Novattox Recony Association, said that while he supports improved infrastructure, experience elsewhere shows private toll operators can fail or raise tolls, leaving the public sector to cover costs. The Sierra Club's Olivia Tanager argued the bill could saddle working-class commuters with tolls and urged greater investment in public transit alternatives.

Committee members asked about enforcement and collections, competitive-bidding exceptions for PPP procurement, environmental and right-of-way steps, likely timelines, and the unanswered question of toll amounts. Mayor Lawson said alignment work is underway and construction would likely be “5 to 8 years” away if the project advances, and he said estimated tolls are not yet known. Hillerby and McCormick said details such as fines, late-fee caps and the precise financing structure would be determined during contract negotiations and local approval processes.

The committee did not vote on AB 61 at the hearing. Sponsors said the next steps, if the bill becomes law, would include completing alignment work, conducting environmental reviews, negotiating rights-of-way with federal land managers and pursuing PPP financing. No formal action or amendment occurred during the hearing.","A bill that would permit a toll-road demonstration between La Posada and USA Parkway drew support from local officials and industry and opposition from groups worried about private partnerships and who would ultimately pay tolls. Sponsors said the measure only enables evaluation and future public-private partnerships; no vote was taken.","actionData","errors"]

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Bill would raise rural counties' construction threshold and allow county crews to perform work after two failed bids; labor and contractors oppose

Assembly committee hears bill to allow Sparks, RTC to pursue toll-road demonstration to serve Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center