Today’s Question:

A concerned citizen wrote me an email and says a street light is desperately needed near the community development at Angel Park Ranch. The email says: “We are located at Durango and Alta, but the light is needed at the park entrance of Durango and Venetian Strada.  It’s very busy and people speed at this end of Durango. It’s unsafe to access the park or our housing development!”

Melissa’s Answer:

I asked the City about getting a traffic light installed here. Authorities say they studied the intersection recently, but there’s not enough traffic to warrant a light. The good news is- developers for a project that is currently in the works at Rampart and Alta is committed to building a light near the area–if studies confirm one is needed. Once the project is finished traffic is expected to increase on Alta & Durango and that’s why a light would then be installed. The project has a ways to go. However, the light’s design is finished and has already been paid for.

* Although a light can’t be built at Durango and Venetian Strada as requested- once the light is built at Durango and Alta- traffic will improve tremendously in the entire area!

Beverly’s Question:

Beverly wrote in and wants to know why Las Vegas doesn’t have a truck route. She says: “There are many people & truckers who drive through Las Vegas to get to other destinations. It seems to me if there were a truck route for these drivers this would certainly help alleviate traffic on the 15 Freeway, especially with some of the H-O-V lanes currently under construction.” She also thinks  the 215 Freeway could be an option for one.

Melissa’s Answer:I thought this was an interesting question! Beverly makes a good point! California and other states on the west coast have them, so why wouldn’t we be a candidate for one? I asked the County and the Nevada Department of Transportation about this. Authorities say there’s never been a real need or enough demand for a route — plus there’s just not enough space in the valley to build one. Truck routes are designed around large urban cities to minimize traffic in its core. As Nevada continues to grow and develop– our construction projects will also progress and build roads to meet the demand. However until the city fully develops and reaches a capacity to where it needs one- there aren’t any plans to build one. As an extra tidbit, once the Hoover Dam overpass is finished next June- it will help reduce traffic congestion on the major commercial truck route between Phoenix and Las Vegas. At least truckers will soon have some relief on the commute, there!

Yolanda’s Question for the Southwest:  Yolanda wants to know if there are any plans to put  a traffic signal at the intersection of Rainbow and Patrick. She thinks with all of the traffic there-it can use one!  Yolanda says “I have been living in the Southwest for over 8 years and I’ve seen how it’s developed and how traffic has practically quadrupled during this time! There are now lots of commercial centers and residential areas and yet there doesn’t seem to be enough traffic lights in the area!”

Melissa’s Answer:  Yolanda is right- the Southwest is constantly growing. You know the old quote- “if you build it, they will come!” Obviously the roads did, but not the traffic lights! I asked the County about installing a traffic signal at Rainbow and Patrick. County officials said this intersection was recently studied for one, but doesn’t meet the requirements. In a traffic signal study,  different factors are  researched like the intersection’s speed limit, the amount of accidents that occur and traffic delays. The study needs to pass 8 check points or “warrants” to get the okay for one.  Unfortunately, Patrick at Rainbow didn’t pass. Another study will be done in the future as the area continues to grow. If that study shows a signal is needed, a plan and design will be made.

Howie wrote into Traffic8 and says the 215 is Driving Him Crazy!

Question: “I travel the I-215 Beltway in North Las Vegas every week and what scares me the most is from Aliante Parkway to the west side of the Beltway there’s two-way traffic, but there’s no center barrier. People drive over 65 miles per hour and it’s a big risk for head-on collisions. Can something be done to make it safe?!”

Melissa’s Answer:

I got in touch with the County and asked them about this. They said because the 215 was built in sections this, as well as many other portions of the 215, were initially built as “temporary” road designs. That’s why the speed limit is actually only 55 and there are no medians. The good news is there are plans to upgrade this area and make it a full- capacity freeway. Two projects are set to do road work from Tenaya Way to Decatur and Decatur to North 5th street. These projects will create new lanes, interchanges and include basic road touch ups. The only bad new is- these projects aren’t expected to start until next year. (Gulp!) Hang in there Northwest commuters!

Read on for What’s Driving Ann Crazy! Ann says it’s frustrating to make a left hand turn at the intersection of Grand Teton Drive and El Capitan! She lives in the area and says it’s become dangerous for pedestrians using the nonexistent crosswalks. Ann says: “why doesn’t this four-way stop have a traffic light instead of posted signs? A stop light would ease the congestion and make it safer for drivers and pedestrians.“ She’s also curious if there is any construction projects that could help her commute here. Melissa’s Answer: City Officials say this intersection was just studied last month for a traffic light but unfortunately, doesn’t have enough traffic to meet the requirements for one. That’s why there are signs posted there instead. As for Ann’s other question- there is a bridge project currently in the works that will connect Grand Teton between Fort Apache on the west and El Capitan on the east. Once this gets built it should help relieve congestion all along Grand Teton. The City is ready to build this but is just waiting for funding to do it.

John’s Question:  John wrote in and says he is baffled by a couple of signs at the intersection of the premium outlet mall! He says:                                                                                               
When driving south on Grand Central Parkway passing the outlet mall, there’s an intersection with a traffic light. There are two signs posted on the light pole, one says “no u-turns” and the other says, “no turns.” These signs would indicate that a right-hand turn into the outlet mall driving south where there is generally access to the parking garage would be illegal. John’s confused by these signs and he may not be the only one.Melissa’s Answer:I spoke to the City and they said the signs were meant to show drivers traveling south on Grand Central Parkway at the outlet mall -that there are no left turns and no u-turns allowed there. They weren’t meant to direct drivers who were trying to make a southbound right turn into the mall. City authorities say they understand why this may have caused confusion–with the signs sitting right next to each other. The city will now be removing them and just one sign will be placed letting drivers know that u-turns and left-turns are not allowed.