RTC official details $4.6 billion 2050 transportation plan and explains proposed $250 EV registration fee

Paul Nelson, government affairs officer at the Regional Transportation Commission, told the Warm Springs Citizen Advisory Board on May 13 that the agencyhas identified about 107 projects in its updated 2050 regional transportation plan with an estimated cost of roughly $4.6 billion.

Nelson outlined RTCFY26 revenues at about $290.92 million, noting the largest single source is local fuel taxes (about $118 million), supplemented by federal formula and discretionary grants, regional road-impact fees and modest passenger fees on the transit side. He said RTCis spending approximately $330 million this year, with capacity projects, preservation and some debt service among the principal costs.

Highlighting the funding challenge, Nelson said the regionis collecting less fuel tax as vehicles become more efficient and electric-vehicle registrations rise. "EV registrations in Washoe County increased from about 1,500 in 2020 to nearly 10,500 now," he said, and added that because EV owners do not buy gasoline they do not contribute to the fuel-tax revenue that funds roads.

To address that gap, Nelson described an advisory question the county board will consider on May 26 asking whether voters would support local action to request a $250 annual registration fee for electric vehicles (and a separate, smaller fee for hybrids). "This ballot question would ask voters should there be a $250 fee at registration for people that own electric vehicles," he said, emphasizing the advisory measure would inform legislators rather than immediately enact a local tax.

Nelson also summarized a range of RTC programs and projects. He described pavement-preservation work that treats 150to 200 lane miles annually, cited unit costs for preservation work, and detailed several capital projects: Sparks Boulevard capacity widening (to be completed in summer 2027), Eagle Canyon pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements near schools, corrective maintenance on Lar Drive and Cordova Boulevard, and phased upgrades on Pyramid Highway and the Five Bridges corridor to relieve recurring backups.

On regional connectivity, Nelson reviewed a Northeast Connector alignment study and early commuter-rail planning that would use existing freight tracks. He said initial estimates to launch a commuter rail service are on the order of hundreds of millions of dollars (about $175 million in early phases plus rolling stock) with long-term buildout costs that could approach $1 billion; short-term ridership projections are roughly 4,500to 5,000 daily riders with long-term potential near 14,500 riders.

During Q&A, Nelson said RTC conducts a system audit every three years and relies on public meetings and surveys to shape route and service decisions. He described developer-funded regional road-impact fees (RIF) that charge per-unit fees (north of I-80 cited at roughly $5,200 per unit in the presentation) and explained why alternatives such as mileage-based user fees or charging-station levies raise privacy or technical issues.

What happens next: the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners will consider whether to place the advisory EV-fee question on the November ballot at its May 26 meeting; any actual fee would require subsequent legislative or statutory action, Nelson said.