During Wednesday's state Transportation Board meeting, Gov. Kenny Guinn apologized to Transportation Director Tom Stephens and other officials for their treatment at the hands of "Carson City's media."
"A public apology is in order," said the governor. "If they won't apologize, I will."
We can only assume that the governor is asking us to apologize. If that's the case, we'll put that apology on the same timetable he and the board put the Carson City bypass on, which means they can expect to see it sometime in 2010. And if it hasn't arrived at NDOT's doorstep by then, it will probably be because it is stuck in traffic on Carson Street.
In other words, we aren't about to apologize for fighting for Carson City residents. And we emphasize "residents."
You see, we don't particularly care how NDOT or city officials choose to spin the facts. The only fact that matters is that Carson City residents have been waiting 30 years for a bypass and they still don't have one.
On top of that, there was a promise made four years ago that they would get a bypass if they paid a nickel more the pumps. It may not have been formal, but it certainly was implied.
So forgive us for not applauding Wednesday's board decision, but we can't seem to figure out what we all ought to be so grateful for. Or what we ought to aplogize for.
Should we apologize for suggesting that there is no such thing as half a bypass? Or that "Phase One" of the bypass will do nothing to relieve congestion on Carson Street?
Perhaps we should apologize for suggesting that the Carson City bypass is far more urgent than the I-580 Freeway between Mount Rose Highway and Washoe Valley?
Or maybe we ought to say we're sorry for accusing the NDOT director and the Transportation Board of playing favorites when it comes to highway projects in Nevada? Please. Don't try to tell us "Southern Politics," as in Las Vegas, don't play a role in highway funding.
Sorry, we're not sorry.
In fact, nothing that happened Wesdesday changes our resolve to see this bypass through to completion.
And as of today, NDOT still can't tell us when the full bypass will be completed. "Those dates (2008 to 2010) are still the best we have," said one official. "The more information we get, the more we'll know what obstacles we're going to face in Phase 2."
Until then, we'll keep the spolight burning.
