Highway 50 study focus of Dayton advisory council meeting tonight

Dayton residents will get a chance to talk to Nevada Department of Transportation officials about a study of the Highway 50 Corridor at the Dayton Regional Advisory Council meeting tonight.

The $500,000 study of the Highway 50 corridor from Carson City to Silver Springs began last month with a kickoff meeting of "stakeholders," which project manager Sandy Stanio called "people interested in the corridor."

DRAC chairwoman Barbara Peck said this study sounded like one that was done in spring of 2004 of the Highway 50 stretch through Dayton. She said she was unaware of what became of the 2004 study.

"We had somebody from the state named Cadwallader last year do a study, and now we're starting from square one again," she said. "Why wasn't his report passed over to NDOT?"

According to Peck, the 2004 study cost the county about $25,000 and was amended to the Dayton master plan, but later removed by the county commissioners.

Commissioner Bob Milz, who represents Dayton, could not be reached for comment.

NDOT officials say the study and requests for public comment are necessary because of increased development of the Dayton Valley.

"We have so many new developments out there that we need to work with the residents and work with the county," said Scott Magruder, NDOT spokesman. He said NDOT officials will be at the DRAC meeting.

Dennis Taylor, chief of program development for NDOT, said the department was offering a number of community workshops and meetings to try to predict the traffic needs of Highway 50 from Carson City to Silver Springs.

He said the corridor study would run for 18 months and the final draft should be released in February 2007.

"It is a proactive approach do find out what is likely to be affecting that corridor," he said. "What is likely to happen along that corridor five, 15, or 20 years out so we can mitigate safety issues and also look at future issues."

Taylor said the study will focus on intersections with a large number of accidents and how best to prepare for increased developments.

Taylor said more stakeholder meetings are planned, with the next one Nov. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Lyon County Utilities building.

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

If you go

WHAT: Dayton Regional Advisory Council meeting

WHEN: 7 tonight

WHERE: Lyon County Utilities Building, 34 Lakes Boulevard, Dayton

WHAT: Highway 50 Corridor Study stakeholders

meeting

WHEN: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Nov. 10

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