Porter backs I-15 toll lanes

CARSON CITY — U.S. Rep. Jon Porter urged state legislators on Thursday to back private construction of toll lanes on Interstate 15 between Las Vegas and Barstow, Calif.

Porter, R-Nev., said Southern Nevada’s roads already are congested, with 40,000 new hotel rooms soon to be constructed in Las Vegas certain to add to the problem.

Congestion can be reduced and state money made available for other road projects if private funds are used to construct two to four additional lanes adjacent to I-15 between Las Vegas and Barstow or Victorville, according to Porter.

"Why not allow our visitors to share in the expense?" asked Porter, a former state senator. "If we don’t do something about those byways, we will be out of business."

Each member of Nevada’s congressional delegation is permitted to deliver a speech to the Legislature during the every-other-year legislative sessions.

In his 17-minute speech, Porter also proposed that the state enter into contracts with private firms to construct a toll road around Boulder City and to add toll lanes on Interstate 80 between Reno and California.

"Wall Street is interested," Porter added.

He later addressed the Senate Transportation Committee on why public-private partnerships might be the best way to finance Nevada highway construction.

"I do know the private sector can build it faster," said Porter during the committee hearing.

But in response to questions from legislators, Porter said he knows of no way to eliminate the environmental impact statements and other requirements that must be completed before construction can begin.

"It could take five years plus," Porter said.

Porter said he is confident that Nevadans and visitors would support toll roads as long as free alternate routes are also available.

"I sense the traveling public doesn’t want six-, seven-, eight-hour waits south of Las Vegas," Porter said. "Give them a choice between free lanes and toll lanes."

People who fly into airports in Reno and Las Vegas pay fees, he noted.

The transportation committee is considering legislation to allow construction of toll roads in Nevada.

Earlier this week, Sen. John Lee, D-North Las Vegas, said that toll roads would hurt working Nevadans and that the only road he would support for tolls is the Strip.

When questioned during a news conference, Porter said he opposed converting the Strip into a toll road.

By constructing the three toll roads with private funds, Porter said the state could save $1 billion.

Legislators have been looking at ways to raise the $3.8 billion that a citizens task force determined in December was needed to build 10 unfunded superhighway projects between 2008 and 2015.

In his speech, Porter said the highway construction shortfall actually might be $8 billion.

Tom Skancke, who served on the task force, told the Senate committee that the $3.8 billion was based on 2006 costs and that the amount will grow with inflation. He added that the state wants to finance the construction with bonds over a 20-year period. Counting interest, the total cost would be $7.5 billion, he said.

"We keep saying $3.8 billion when it is really $7.5 billion and continues to grow," Skancke said.

While he did not mention the Iraq War during his speech, Porter spent much of a news conference in the state capital defending the war. He said most of his constituents tell him they want "to win the war, not to retreat."

"We have to fight the war," Porter said.

If America leaves Iraq, then the enemy "will follow us here," he said.