The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) in conjunction with the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is inviting Washoe County residents to share their input on the 23-mile McCarran Boulevard section that encircles the urban outskirts of the urban areas of Reno and Sparks.
The McCarran Boulevard Corridor Study takes an in-depth look at transportation problems and opportunities along this corridor, researching and analyzing traffic volumes, transit access, safety issues, and pedestrian/bicycle areas within the current 23-mile roadway. With the help of the community’s input, it has identified several types of transportation needs that could be options in improving the area.
Earlier this year, the RTC requested the public’s feedback on how to improve the McCarran Boulevard Corridor. Within the public comment period between March 10, 2022, through April 11, 2022, the RTC and NDOT held an interactive virtual public meeting and sent out a seven-question online survey in which it received 679 responses.
Of those responses, the top three concerns in commuting on the McCarran Boulevard corridors were about traffic congestion, vehicle crashes/speeding, and not enough safe places to bike or walk. Thirty-nine percent of respondents use McCarran Boulevard to go to and from work while 31 percent use it to go shopping. Most respondents (36 percent) use McCarran Boulevard as an alternative to the freeway while a close 34 percent of survey takers use it because they live near the corridor.
The respondents were pretty much split over whether the corridor should have consistent characteristics around the entire ring or varying traits as land uses evolve. Major recurring themes involved too many lights and intersections that interrupt traffic flow; the need for better bicycle and pedestrian facilities; lots of speeding; and added public transit needed along portions of the corridor. The top three key terms associated with the survey were “Synchronize Signals”, “Install Bicycle Lane”, and “Reduce Intersections”. Most comments came from the northwest and southwest quadrants of the corridor as well as a few in the eastern section between I-80 and Prater Way.
Since this past spring, RTC used the input to develop a set of recommendations for the community to review. Proposed changes include improving the intersection of McCarran and Prater Way (to be figured out by a future intersection-specific study to identify the need or changes to turn lanes, new signal installations, or extended signal timing) and perhaps adding another travel lane to the section of McCarran between El Rancho Drive and Pyramid Way. There are also plans to possibly include sections of sidewalks and bike lanes near Pyramid Way and Rock Boulevard in McCarran’s northeast quadrant, as well as a bike lane added to McCarran on the section between I-80 and Greg Street.
The RTC hopes that the Reno/Sparks community will visit rtcwashoe.com to view the maps and proposed improvements. Comments or questions about the draft study may be sent to McCarranStudy@rtcwashoe.com or by calling (775) 335-1901 and will be accepted through November 30. The RTC anticipates that the final report will be available sometime this winter.
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