STUDY PROCESS FAQ

What is the Pyramid Highway & US 395 Connection Study?

The study will involve preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The study will evaluate potential transportation improvements along the Pyramid Highway corridor from Queen Way to Calle de la Plata, and improving east/west connectivity from US 395 to Vista Boulevard.

What is an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)?

An EIS is a document that details analysis to determine and evaluate the environmental and community impacts of potential solutions. It includes opportunities to avoid or minimize adverse environmental impacts that a project solution may create if it is implemented.

How long will it take to complete this environmental study?

EIS studies and required document preparation can take anywhere from 3 to 10 years to complete depending on the complexity of the project and due to the intense level of public outreach, agency coordination, analysis, and the federal review process involved. The RTC's current schedule is to complete this study process by 2012 and receive approval from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) by 2014.

How is the study being funded?

The study is being paid for by both federal and state funds.

Who will benefit from the study?

People who live and/or work in Reno, Sparks and Washoe County will greatly benefit from the much needed capacity and connectivity improvements that will be identified as part of the study. As one of only three north/south routes into and out of Spanish Springs and the one serving the highest volumes of traffic, capacity improvements will provide an immediate mobility benefit to the entire region and improve east/west connectivity among communities in the north Truckee Meadows.

How will Sun Valley be affected by the alternatives currently under consideration?

Currently there are two potential freeway alignments being studied to connect Pyramid Highway to US 395 that would cross through the southern end of Sun Valley. One of these alignments would cross Sun Valley north of El Rancho Boulevard and the other immediately north of Rampion Way. Both of these alignments could potentially include an interchange at either Sun Valley Boulevard or at the future West Sun Valley Arterial described in the RTC's 2030 Regional Transportation Plan. These crossings and associated interchanges would provide alternative, high-speed access from Sun Valley to US 395 as well as to employment and commercial centers within the Spanish Springs valley.

After the study is complete, what is next?

After the analysis is complete, the study team will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to be submitted to the FHWA and the public for review. A Final EIS will then be prepared which will identify a preferred alternative. A decision document follows, identifying approval of the preferred alternative or the no-build alternative. After federal approval is received, depending on the availability of funds, the RTC could move forward with final design of the selected alternative, acquire necessary right of way and begin to construct the first phases of the improvements.

How can I stay informed?

The best way to stay informed about the Pyramid Highway & US 395 Connection Study is to explore the study website and attend public meetings. Adding your name to our mailing list will allow you to be notified of upcoming public meetings. You may send requests to be added to our mailing list by emailing Mark.Gallegos@CH2M.com.

For specific questions regarding the study or to submit comments, please contact:
Doug Maloy, PE
RTC PROJECT MANAGER
775-335-1865 (phone)
775-348-0170 (fax)
dmaloy@rtcwashoe.com

What is NEPA?

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is our country's principal environmental policy that was signed into law on January 1, 1970. NEPA is a process that governs federal agencies to prevent environmental damage and ensures that agency decision-makers take environmental factors into account.

The key product of a NEPA process is the required documents, in this case an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). An EIS is a document that details analysis to determine and evaluate the environmental and community impacts of potential solutions. It includes opportunities to avoid or minimize adverse environmental impacts that a project solution may create.

Several formal public meetings are held to provide input to the EIS analysis of alternatives. These meetings are:

Scoping Meeting - This meeting is designed to determine the scope of issues, the types of actions needed, and the range of alternatives to be considered and evaluated. (the Scoping Meeting was held in April, 2008)

Draft EIS Meeting - This meeting, which will be a public hearing, will disclose and discuss the draft of the technical analysis of the environmental impacts and the alternatives on the proposed project. The time, date and location of the public hearing will be set when the Draft EIS is complete. The public hearing will serve to officially announce a 45-day public review and comment opportunity.

Final EIS - The Final EIS reflects consideration of all comments and contains the responses to those comments on the Draft EIS (DEIS). The Final EIS (FEIS) will identify the local, state, and federally preferred alternative.

The Record of Decision (ROD) - The lead agency will file the Final EIS with the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Federal Activities. The FHWA must publish a notice with the Federal Register that the Final EIS was received. Once this is complete, a 30 day time period for public review begins. After this review period, and the lead agency determines that the Final EIS meets federal standards, a ROD is prepared documenting the project decision and the NEPA process is considered complete.

"No-action" Alternative - It is important to note that the "no-action" alternative is carried through the entire process for consideration as well as to serve as a baseline for impacts and benefits comparison.

ALTERNATIVES & CONCEPTS FAQ

Wouldn't a West Sun Valley roadway carry enough traffic from Spanish Springs to relieve congestion within the Pyramid Corridor?

Redirecting traffic originating from north Spanish Springs and beyond destined for the Reno urban core to the south and west and away from the Pyramid Corridor via a West Sun Valley arterial has been considered as a means to relieve congestion within the Pyramid Corridor. Traffic analysis performed as a part of this study demonstrates that this by itself would not provide significant benefit to the corridor due to two main factors.

First, would be its northerly connection to Spanish Springs. The volume of traffic originating this far north is not sufficient to make a significant difference in traffic congestion. If in 2030 all of the traffic north of the Eagle Canyon / La Posada intersection were to use a West Sun Valley Arterial instead of the Pyramid Highway, the Pyramid Corridor would still be congested, as would McCarran Boulevard between Pyramid Highway and US 395.

Second, the large number of destinations along the Pyramid Corridor attracts a significant percentage of trips within the corridor. The focus tends to be primarily on the major morning and evening commute movements. In fact, a significant percentage of trips within the corridor are associated with shopping and services, many of which are located at the southern end of the Pyramid Corridor in the area of Los Altos Parkway and Disc Drive. The numerous trips attracted to this area would not be served by a more northwesterly facility.

Therefore, a West Sun Valley Arterial would not meet the purpose and need of the study by reducing congestion and improving east/west connectivity. A West Sun Valley Arterial does provide other potential benefits, however, and remains in the RTC's Regional Transportation Plan and would be further studied and implemented under a future, separate effort.

Would a Pyramid Freeway traveling through Sparks directly to I-80 provide the needed connectivity and congestion relief?

The most straightforward way to increase north/south capacity within the study area would be to extend a freeway facility to Interstate 80 along the existing Pyramid alignment through the City of Sparks. Although this would be conceptually viable from an engineering point of view, the impacts to the adjacent neighborhoods would be tremendous. A freeway facility through the heart of the City would severely disrupt access to homes, neighborhoods and businesses and would require an immense amount of relocations when compared to other concepts currently being considered. When compared to other concepts, three to five times the number of homes and businesses would need to be relocated to accommodate this type of facility.

Additionally, this concept would not improve congestion on other facilities such as McCarran Boulevard and would not improve east/west connectivity.

What will the impact be to US 395?

The US 395 Connector would introduce additional traffic volumes to US 395 at an already congested location. The 2030 Regional Transportation Plan recognizes this and includes other improvements identified to increase capacity on U.S. 395. Specifically, improvements to US 395 include widening to ten lanes from the Spaghetti Bowl to McCarran Boulevard, and to eight lanes from McCarran Boulevard to Parr Boulevard. Detailed analysis of improvements to US 395 will be completed under a separate effort.