Carson City RTC endorses draft regional projects list and urges CAMPO to study I‑580/US‑395 interchange

The Carson City Regional Transportation Commission unanimously directed staff to forward the city’s recommended list of regionally significant transportation projects to the Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization for inclusion in the regional transportation plan and discussed options to accelerate work at the congested I‑580/US‑395 interchange.

“This item before you is, to discuss potential projects to submit to the Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization as projects for inclusion in CAMPO’s Regional Transportation Plan,” said Chris Martinovich, transportation manager, as he introduced the draft project list and the city’s recommended fiscal‑constraint priorities.

The draft list (Exhibit 2) includes project identifiers specific to the packet, descriptions, limits, primary project types (roadway, multimodal, transit), potential implementation windows (through 2036 or after), and 2025 cost‑year estimates. Martinovich said projects in bold are new to the draft and many reflect recently completed corridor studies, travel‑demand model reviews or developer contributions. He said staff used a prioritization process that considered pavement condition index, traffic volume and similar factors; the list order follows that scoring.

Commissioners focused most of their discussion on the unfinished I‑580/US‑395 interchange at the south end of the freeway, which the city and regional planners previously identified as part of the Carson Freeway phases. Commissioner Maloney described long delays at the interchange and asked whether the project could be moved earlier than the currently estimated post‑2036 implementation window.

Martinovich said the recent US‑395 Southern Sierra Corridor study showed the interchange’s originally intended design likely will not meet current needs and identified several possible solutions — frontage roads, grade‑separated interchanges or an elevated freeway — but did not select a single preferred design. “There isn’t a specific recommendation in that corridor study that says this is what the interchange … needs to look like,” he said, adding that additional traffic analysis and design work will be required to determine impacts and costs.

Commissioners also discussed funding and local obligations. Martinovich told the commission that, when the interchange is completed, Carson City would be responsible for approximately $7,000,000 to the state under existing agreements. He and others noted that a substantial federal grant — for example through BUILD or INFRA programs — could both advance the schedule and, under the city’s agreement with the state, could eliminate the local debt obligation if the city obtains large federal funding.

Commissioner Maloney moved to direct staff to inform CAMPO of the RTC’s input on the draft RTP as discussed; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The commission did not adopt a single redesign option for the interchange and left further analysis and coordination with NDOT and CAMPO to staff.

The commission also noted that the draft list removes some older projects from the RTP where priorities have shifted and that staff will present maps and public‑facing materials to help the public understand the proposed changes.

Looking ahead, Martinovich said any work to accelerate the interchange would require additional study, coordination with the Nevada Department of Transportation and potential pursuit of competitive federal grants. He also said staff has a meeting scheduled with NDOT to review project worksheets and the interchange’s ranking on state lists.

Details the commission requested — a traffic analysis to define a preferred design and cost, and CAMPO’s placement of the interchange on its priority lists — remain outstanding. The commission’s motion simply directed staff to relay its RTP priorities and concerns to CAMPO, not to adopt a project design or funding commitment.

Votes at a glance: Motion to direct staff to forward RTC input on the RTP to CAMPO — moved by Commissioner Maloney; second not specified in the record; outcome: approved unanimously (5‑0).