Board appoints Mark Costa to RTC after discussion on road funding and microtransit

The Carson City Board of Supervisors voted to appoint Mark Costa to a one-year partial term on the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), and members questioned him about ways to close the city's roadway funding gap.

Mark Costa told the board he spent nearly six years at the Nevada Department of Transportation in multimodal planning and highlighted two broad approaches to funding and preserving roads: pursue legislative change toward mileage- or use-based fees to replace declining gas-tax revenue, and pursue new pavement technologies and targeted operational tools to extend pavement life and lower costs.

Costa also recommended exploring microtransit or demand-responsive services for residents who rely on transit but find fixed-route services inconvenient, and said the city should examine transit ridership headcounts to focus services on people who need them most. He gave a personal example that the road in front of his house failed three times in three years, underscoring his emphasis on maintenance and new technologies.

Supervisor White asked about immediate funding options and oversight; Costa suggested the RTC can recommend legislation and prioritize internal measures while noting RTC does not itself enact state tax policy. After questions from multiple supervisors, Supervisor White moved to appoint Costa to the RTC for the partial term beginning 01/01/2026 and expiring 12/31/2026; the motion passed by voice vote.

Next steps: Costa will be sworn in and assume RTC duties; supervisors asked staff to continue work on the regional transportation plan and potential funding recommendations.