Past traffic analysis included with Highway 50 corridor study

The Highway 50 Corridor Study that got under way last month is a continuation of a study began last year, not a replacement for it, according to Lyon County Manager Donna Kristaponis.

Addressing the Dayton Regional Advisory Committee meeting Wednesday, Kristaponis said the original study done in spring 2004 by Bill Cadwallader of the Western Nevada Development District was passed on to the Nevada Department of Transportation for incorporation into the new study.

DRAC Chairwoman Barbara Peck included the discussion on the meeting agenda due to confusion over what became of the first study.

No one from NDOT was in attendance.

Kristaponis said the Cadwallader study was accepted by the Lyon County Board of Commissioners but was considered insufficient because it only covered Dayton, not the entire corridor. The new study will cover Highway 50 from the Carson City freeway to Leetsville Junction near the Churchill County line.

She also said that old study also contained road placements through the Comstock Historic District that "were just not going to fly."

Noting the recent road closure of Highway 50 from Stagecoach to Silver Springs Wednesday as a result of high winds, she said alternative routes needed to be found for Lyon County residents, 40 percent to 50 percent of whom work outside the county.

"It became apparent that we needed to expand our options on Highway 50," Kristaponis said. "The state is helping us."

She said the study will help define where connector and collector streets should be, as well as where to put a second bridge over the Carson River.

Kristaponis encouraged Dayton residents to attend a meeting of the stakeholders, or people interested in the study, who will meet the second Thursday of each month at the Lyon County Utilities Building in Dayton until the study is complete.

"This may be one of the best things Lyon County has ever done," she said.

In other business, nominations were taken for representation on the Board. There were four seats open.

- Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@ nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.

If you go

WHAT: Highway 50 Corridor Study Stakeholders meeting

WHEN: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Lyon County Utilities Building, 34 Lakes Blvd., Dayton

CALL: (775) 463-6531

DRAC nominees

Nominees must be registered voters, must be nominated by registered voters and must live in the district they represent. If a person does not live in a district with an open seat, they can still represent the district if nominated as an at-large councilperson, representing a specific district.

Four districts were in contention: Districts 1, 2, 3 & 4.

• Nominated to represent districts, with no need for election:

District 1 - Old Town Dayton, Santa Maria Ranch - incumbent Nancy Sbragia.

District 4 - Dayton Valley Ranches - Dee Scott. Incumbent was Barbara Peck, who is leaving the council.

• Nominated to represent districts at-large, with elections scheduled for Dec. 7.

District 2 - Rose Peak/Sutro - Richard Foley. Incumbent is Terri Harris, who is seeking to represent District 3.

District 3 - Mark Twain West - Ken Gray, Terri Harris and Joe Sawyer. Incumbent Dominic Tanzi is leaving the council.

• Representatives for other districts are:

District 5 - River Village - Dorothe Johannes

District 6 - Mark Twain East - Stacie Paterson

District 7 - El Dorado/Golf Course area - Mabel Masterman

• Nominees comments:

Joe Sawyer: "I am a mining engineer and I work in Yerington. I have lots of experience working with the government." He has six kids and five of them graduated from Dayton High School.

Ken Gray "I have 18 years in the Air National Guard. I want to preserve what we have and make sure we move ahead with progress - smart progress. I have been here two years. I live in River Park and I am working on my master's degree in human resources."

Terri Harris: "I have spent two years on DRAC and want to do something to make sure Dayton has smart growth. In most cases community is growing way too fast."

Richard Foley: "I have lived in Dayton for 18 years and I was on DRAC in past years. I am concerned about the shape Dayton is taking and would like to continue trying to nudge Dayton in the right direction."