“Mom always said…”  Some sage advice never goes out of style.  Pedestrian safety principles presented in the tone of an era when they were first learned years ago are popping up all over town in conjunction with the efforts of the Street Smart project. The public education campaign that will run throughout September is aimed at heightening pedestrian safety skills by reminding people that what they learned as children is in fact timeless wisdom.  The theme is “years later, yet still so true.”

Construction on a $16 million project to improve South McCarran from Virginia Street to Mira Loma Drive will begin on Monday, June 20.  Granite Construction is the contractor for the project designed by consultants Wood Rodgers. The work will include reconstruction of S. McCarran Boulevard from Virginia Street to Mira Loma Drive and widening between Longley Lane to Mira Loma Drive from the existing four lanes to six, including turn lanes at intersections and a shared use path for bicyclists and pedestrians.

RTC posts weekly reports of expected traffic controls due to construction on RTC road projects.   The site is updated every Friday afternoon.  Information is at www.rtcwashoe.com/streets-highways-16. Complete information on major projects is also available at the site with summaries updated monthly on the fourth Friday of the month. For RTC information go to rtcwashoe.com to sign up for automatic and free email updates using MyRTC or call 348-0400.

RTC staff and consultants are now surveying residents and others to determine what the community wants to see in a neighborhood road project on West Plumb Lane.  RTC plans pavement reconstruction of the existing roadway from Ferris Lane to South McCarran Boulevard in 2012.  The existing road has one lane in each direction with an open drainage system. It lacks bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Residents will have the opportunity to explore the possibility of constructing additional features, such as sidewalks, pathways and bike lanes as part of the project.

In the Wild West Roadeo, the barrel racers are buses.  The competition and community safety fair is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 17 at Victorian Square.   Buses will barrel race in an obstacle course that requires them to navigate 38,000 pound vehicles between tiny tennis balls aligned for parking, blue barrels for precision in narrow spaces, and other maneuvers that test a driver’s safety skills. 

The Regional Transportation Commission issued a “Notification of Award” today for a contract for operations and maintenance of RTC RIDE transit services.  RTC has been in the process of selecting a transit contractor for more than a year.  MV Transportation Inc., was the highest ranked proposer with 92.001 points out of a possible 100.  First Transit, the current operator, was second with 90.662 points and Veolia Transportation was third with 87.753 points.  A contract award will be considered at the April 15 board meeting.  Assuming successful negotiation and approval of a final agreement, MV would assume responsibility for all operations and maintenance effective July 1.  The proposed contract would go for four years with two options for two years each for the fixed-route RTC RIDE service.  RTC ACCESS is not affected.

RTC and partners at NDOT and local agencies have teamed up to improve safety using a new traffic signal.  New flashing yellow left turn arrows will be cropping up all over town as part of a nationwide effort to increase driver awareness during left turns. The new project will install signals at 58 intersections in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and Washoe and Douglas counties at a cost of about $1 million. Detailed information is available www.nevadadot.com/flashingyellow. NDOT is also installing countdown pedestrian signals as part of the safety project.

New proposals for the busy intersection at Pyramid Way and McCarran Boulevard in Sparks will be on display at an RTC meeting from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23 at John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks. The public is welcome to attend any time to speak one-on-one with project representatives in an open house format or to hear a short presentation at 5:30.

Motorists who use Veterans Parkway in South East Reno will be able to access Geiger Grade Road near  Mount Rose Highway with a brand new roundabout expected to open to traffic this weekend.  Work is part of a $5.5 million project that will also widen Veterans Parkway to four lanes from Geiger Grade Road to Rio Wrangler parkway. RTC Project Manager Blaine Petersen said work on the roundabout is wrapping up.  Striping that requires warmer air temperatures will be completed by spring.  The project was designed by Kimley-Horn and Associates, built by Granite Construction and made possible by RTC-5 funding approved by voters in 2008.