Oh boy, I didn’t realize what a complicated and HOT topic this was! I covered the issue in a recent What’s Driving You Crazy?! segment, and I received several calls and e-mails after it aired.
There are different rules & laws depending on what jurisdiction you are in. So here’s the break down:
Just in the last week we have reported on two rollovers…. one on U.S. 95 near Durango and another on Cheyenne near Allen Lane. This morning we showed an accident at the airport connector. The car hit a light pole, knocked it over, and that pole fell below to the road and hit another car! How!? Why? Do we all really need to drive this fast??
I know I talk a lot about rollovers and how they amaze me. Many of you have posted comments saying… it’s easier to do, than it seems. But… really? You have to admit… you must be going pretty fast.
So here’s my new question. Why does everyone drive so FAST? What purpose does it serve? Are you late? Are you rushing to Target? What?
I look forward to hearing your comments! Post away! 
And… Drive Safe!
This week I did a “What’s Driving You Crazy?!” special report on who paints the lines on county roads. We found out that there is only a crew of FOUR people in charge of this. Last year they painted almost 7,000 miles of roadway! They cover all county roads from Logandale to Sandy Valley.
Here are the links to the stories:
Many people ask, why only four people? How can that possibly be? Clark County says it obviously comes down to funding. The Public Works Department shares a budget with METRO and UMC… so in the end… it receives the smallest piece of the pie. Only about 2.4 percent.
Each year, every department hands in a budget with its personnel and equipment needs. It goes to management, then to the County’s Department of Finance. The Department of Finance takes in all the information and makes a priority list for the county’s annual budge. This list then goes to the Board of County Commissioners for approvel. Many of the decisions depend on the County’s projected revenue for the upcoming year.
So for now… the County is stuck with using only one Maintenance Supervisor and a crew of three to work with him. They also only have one paint truck. And one new machine that helps seal those RPM’s (Raised Pavement Markers) down to the road.
Here’s some information that can help you. I know many of you see spots of concern around the valley, here are some numbers you can use to report a faded line, ghost line, an area that needs a school crosswalk, etc.
Clark County Traffic Operations Division: 702-455-7544
( The county is in charge of county roads and the 215 Beltway west of the I-15)
North Las Vegas: 702-633-1264
Nevada Dept. of Transportation: 702-385-6504
Henderson: 702-267-3099
City of Las Vegas: 702-229-6276
** But remember, make sure you leave your name and number if you get a message! They want to be able to call you back and update you on the issue. Sometimes the issue you have is not in their jurisdiction too. So they want to call you and give you the correct number.
Yes, they are coming. But will they really make a difference to YOU?
Well, they will if you drive from the Southern 215 to the Spaghetti Bowl without exiting- vice versa.
But, other than that probably not. Yes, it will get some of that traffic off the highway used by those that exit along that stretch… so we’ll take anything we can get right! The Nevada Department of Transporation has had plans for this express lane for a while… but they finally got the funding last week.
NDOT already has the room on the highway for the Express Lanes… so construtction shouldn’t affect the commute too much. I love project like this…. because all th work can be done while most of the lanes are left open.
The lanes should be open by early 2009.
For more information – click here.
What do you think? Do you think the Express Lanes will help ease traffic congestion on the I-15?
