Politicians often steer clear of road work

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Imagine getting elected to a political office only to be bounced for voting in favor of a new road.

Apparently that fear is not uncommon.

Just take a look at lawmakers’ most recent opportunity to advance Interstate 11, a freeway that most Southern Nevadans agree is a must to not only ease congestion for tourists, but to more efficiently move goods between Arizona and Nevada.

Legislators could have allocated more funds so the Nevada Department of Transportation could get started on the freeway. Instead, after much discussion, they adopted a resolution to send a letter to our congressional delegation to support Interstate 11 funding. Well, a lot of good that did. Our delegation already backs the interstate.

Transportation consultant Tom Skancke can name a few politicians — most of them out of office — who persistently pushed for projects to improve traffic flow no matter how contentious the discussion. Today, he noted, most are afraid of losing their seat and retreat from the topic.

Lobbyists are apparently well aware of this. Check out Carson City during the legislative session. Tobacco lobbyists? Sure. Gaming lobbyists? But of course. Hey, even prostitution lobbyists head up north.

“You go up and lobby for transportation money, they look at you like you’re smoking crack,” Skancke said.

Study this country’s history and you will learn that transportation infrastructure has yanked us out of recessions each time. Here, in part, is why: For each $1 billion spent on highways or infrastructure 30,000 jobs are created.

Skancke said Nevada has a good $3 billion in transportation needs. That is 90,000 jobs. You think there are 90,000 construction workers out of a job? I’m going with yes.

So why are politicians so afraid? Well, there is no question the public gets a little testy over transportation issues.

Look at our local history: In 1996, Clark County Commission incumbent Paul Christensen lost his seat partially because he opposed a new interchange at U.S. Highway 95 and Valley View Boulevard. That same year, Matthew Callister was booted from his Las Vegas City Council post because of his stance on billboards along U.S. 95.

Clark County Commissioner Lance Malone came under fire after approving the widening of U.S. 95 in his district. The county was later sued by the Sierra Club, which contended that commissioners failed to properly study how nearby residents might be affected by noise and air pollution.

More recently, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been assailed for his support of the DesertXPress high-speed rail project because of its first leg between Las Vegas and Victorville, Calif. Others might argue that the rail has to begin somewhere: the first leg of President Eisenhower’s interstate highway system was in Podunk, Mo.

So why does controversy tailgate transportation?

“Because everybody’s an expert. Everybody thinks they know what the best solution is,” former Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury said. “It’s also an issue that hits everybody in the face everyday. It’s a big part of everybody’s life.”

Woodbury should know. Throughout his two decades on the commission, his reputation went largely untarnished. However, opponents sprouted up all over the place after Clark County unveiled its plans for the Las Vegas Beltway, now commonly known as Interstate 215.

Woodbury was a big proponent of the beltway, and the first segment ran through his district. Thousands of his longtime supporters were angry because the alignment traveled too close to their homes or, in some cases, through their property.

“A person who lived in one of those neighborhoods challenged me,” Woodbury said. “There were huge battles at County Commission meetings. I was getting phone calls, letters, hate mail. Now I think people who live in that neighborhood think it’s great.”

That wasn’t the only transportation project that invoked controversy. The monorail spawned its share of ugly feuds, and influential casino owners played tug-of-war with commissioners over access points on the Desert Inn arterial, the location of pedestrian bridges on the Strip and the proposal to punch Harmon Avenue across Las Vegas Boulevard.

Road projects are never popular with the public, because they are expensive and take a long time to complete.

“People don’t want to be stuck in congestion while a project is being done,” Skancke said. “The public doesn’t want to be stuck in congestion, but it doesn’t want to pay for it at the same time. They (transportation projects) just aren’t popular.”

Skancke brings up an interesting point too. Have you ever noticed how elected officials proudly gather with golden shovels during groundbreaking ceremonies or excitedly hoist oversized scissors during ribbon-cutting events?

During construction they tend to vanish.

“Most people just like to be there for the good stuff and not for the tough stuff,” he said.

Skancke lists Reid, Woodbury and former Rep. Barbara Vucanovich as politicians who backed projects and stuck with them despite public backlash.

“What’s the point of being in office if you don’t use it to accomplish something?” Woodbury said.

And that’s a good point. Can you imagine if the 215 was never built because politicians feared they would be bounced from office?

If you have a question, tip or tirade, call Adrienne Packer at 702-387-2904, or send an email to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com. Include your phone number.