nevada

Enabling legislation for the tollroad bypass around Boulder City Nevada passed this week opening the way for procurement of a concessionaire. The 15 mile, 24km 2+2 lanes expressway project has been promoted by Joe Hardy, Republican state Assemblyman for Boulder City, but has been blocked a a number of times previously by populist anti-toll Democrats.

Nevada state senator Joe Hardy (Repub) seems to be successfully advancing enabling legislation to allow a request for proposals (RFP) for private sector funding of a Boulder City Bypass tollroad. The bypass would provide 2x2 lanes of expressway around the southside of Boulder City for US93 the major route between the Las Vegas metro area (Clark Co 1.95m people) and Phoenix AZ (Maricopa Co 3.82m pop).

Nevada is living up to its reputation for gambling and glitz. Its senate has managed to pass by 15 votes to 6 the nation's wildest law on toll road concessions. SB206_R1 purports to welcome investment in private tollroads but lays down a pair of mile-high obstacles:

The Nevada Department of Transportation is soliciting proposals for a qualified Consultant to provide Financial, Legal and Technical support for the Pioneer Program Private-Public Partnerships and the Demonstration Project.