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Storey County directs staff to develop contract with Tesla for I‑80 Patrick on‑ramp extension; public commenter proposes gondola alternative
Summary
The Storey County Board voted 3‑0 to direct staff to draft a private infrastructure improvement contract with Tesla to extend the I‑80 Patrick westbound on‑ramp, a project estimated at $3–5 million; an earlier public comment proposed a separate high‑capacity gondola to carry workers above the highway.
The Storey County Board of County Commissioners on April 7 directed county staff to develop a private infrastructure improvement contract with Tesla Inc. to facilitate an extension of the I‑80 Patrick westbound on‑ramp and to bring a draft agreement back to the board for consideration. County Manager Austin Osborne introduced two Tesla representatives, Chris Riley and Brian Bolls, before the motion passed by unanimous vote.
Tesla’s representatives told the board that extending the westbound on‑ramp about 2,200 feet would increase merging capacity and help ease afternoon congestion and safety concerns on I‑80 between USA Parkway and Vista. Riley provided an estimated project cost of $3–5 million and described the work as intended to “substantially alleviat[e] overall afternoon rush‑hour traffic congestion and safety concerns.” The board’s motion directed staff to develop a contract that may include structured cost‑reimbursement if Storey County funds part or all of the work.
The item followed a public comment from Justin Uhart, who presented a written feasibility brief and proposed a high‑capacity industrial gondola to move workers above the interstate as an alternative solution. Uhart said the gondola concept could transport about 8,000 workers and estimated a 24–30 month timeframe to deliver the system. The board did not adopt or commit to the gondola proposal; rather, commissioners approved the staff directive to pursue a formal contract framework with Tesla.
The motion does not obligate final funding; it directs county staff to draft contract language and return a proposed agreement to the board for formal consideration and any required appropriation. The board voted 3‑0 in favor: Commissioners Clay Mitchell (mover) and Donald Gilman (seconder) joined Chairman Jay Carmona in the unanimous vote.
What happens next: staff will prepare a draft private infrastructure improvement contract between Storey County and Tesla and present it to the board at a future meeting. Any funding commitments, cost‑reimbursement arrangements or construction approvals must be considered by the board at that later date.
