Safe Routes to School art contest, safety plan updates and highway maintenance highlighted in Campo meeting

A Safe Routes to School presenter described an art contest open to Nevada schoolchildren that organizers say is intended to raise road-safety awareness and may result in a mural in Carson City featuring winning artwork.

"The contest is inviting Nevada, all of Nevada's school children to participate K through grade and submit original drawings to raise awareness of road safety," the presenter said, adding that submissions were being collected through mid-September and that grand-prize winners would be featured on a Carson City mural. Contest information was posted at bicyclenevada.com, the presenter said.

Separately, NDOT staff gave an update on highway maintenance and safety programs. Staff said maintenance crews last year excavated and reestablished roadside ditches on 23 miles of U.S. 395 and Interstate 580 in Wadsworth Valley and that crews are performing regrading and drainage work this summer, including median work near Topsy Lane and shoulder/ditch work on northbound I-580 near Clearview Drive.

On the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), a staff member said project applications had been submitted and were under review by NDOT’s front office; a decision was expected after an internal memo and a front-office budget meeting. The presenter said NDOT had asked for additional information and that a final action would depend on that internal process.

Board members thanked staff for the maintenance work and for coordinating outreach and safety planning; no board action was required on these informational updates.