RTC Hosts Sun Valley Community Workshop
On January 19, 2011, the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (RTC) hosted a Community Workshop in Sun Valley, Nevada. The workshop provided residents, business owners and community leaders the opportunity to review and provide input on the alternative solutions including alternative connector alignments and potential interchange locations currently under consideration within Sun Valley for the Pyramid Highway/U.S. 395 Connection Environmental Impact Study.
The meeting was attended by more than a hundred people who learned more about the project's potential impacts and benefits to the Sun Valley Community. During the workshop, the RTC received valuable input from the public regarding the community's needs and concerns pertaining to the information discussed, the alternatives presented and the study in general.
The RTC is very appreciative of the participation and feedback provided at the workshop on this important regional project. The RTC welcomes continued public input as the study progresses
Click here to view maps and other meeting materials presented at the workshop.
* Alternatives depicted on workshop materials are conceptual and may change based on more detailed engineering and analysis.
July 2010 Update: Environmental Field Surveys Resume on Pyramid Highway/US 395 Connection EIS Study
Environmental field surveys for the Pyramid Highway/US 395 Connection Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Study will resume in early August of 2010 through the end of the year. Specialists from RTC and their consultants will conduct environmental surveys for this EIS in accordance with right-of-entry permissions obtained for those properties that may need to be accessed.
The purpose of these surveys is to document existing environmental and physical conditions in order to determine potential impacts from roadway alignment alternatives that may evolve from this study. These surveys can include, but are not limited to, surveys for wetlands, wildlife and wildlife habitat, endangered species, water resources, historic and archaeological sites, hazardous materials, noise monitoring, visual assessments, and preliminary engineering. These surveys are generally non-invasive, and at most, consist of digging minor soil tests and/or placing marker flags on the property.
For any questions or concerns regarding the upcoming field activities, or the Study in general, you can contact RTC's Project Manager--Doug Maloy--at (775) 335-1865 or email dmaloy@rtcwashoe.com
Thank you for your assistance!
Screening The Solutions - April 2010 Update
UPDATE: Pyramid Highway/US 395 Connection
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
During the first quarter of 2010, the Pyramid Highway/US 395 Connection Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) team met with several community groups, developers, and local and state agencies to discuss the project and obtain input regarding the project issues and alternatives. Initial feedback has been positive, and the study team has received valuable input.
Given the recent economic downturn and the impacts to our local economy, the RTC Board has directed staff to incorporate new data into the RTC's Regional Travel Demand Model pertaining to population projections and land use forecasts. The new information, known as the Consensus Forecast, will be provided by the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency and implemented by the RTC Transportation Planning Department.
In response to these current conditions, the RTC and NDOT have agreed to scale back work on the Pyramid Highway/US 395 Connection EIS to allow time to analyze and recalibrate the traffic modeling to be used for this study. The purpose of this effort is to ensure the traffic model accurately reflects the projected future conditions within the North Valleys and Spanish Springs region. The updated model will allow the study team to better evaluate operational needs within the corridor, evaluate the effectiveness of different solutions, and provide a more accurate cost/benefit analysis of the alternatives to be considered.
The revised traffic model is anticipated to be completed in fall 2010. Work on the Pyramid Highway/US 395 Connection EIS will resume at the RTC Board's direction.
For more information, please contact Doug Maloy, RTC Project Manager, 775.335.1865, or dmaloy@rtcwashoe.com.
Screening The Solutions - January 2010 Update
The Pyramid/US 395 Connection Environmental Impact Study is progressing in the evaluation and screening of alternatives in conformance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Study Team implemented a structured Screening Process to equitably assess the effectiveness of the improvement concepts as to how they meet the objectives of the Purpose and Need that was developed at the beginning of the study. Several levels of screening have taken place to reduce approximately 25 concepts down to just a few that will undergo further study. Over the past year, the Study Team, along with input from the public and the RTC Technical Advisory Committee, has studied and evaluated these concepts, resulting in the determination of a handful of concepts that meet the objectives and could, if approved, be designed and constructed. Read more...
Conceptual Alignment Renderings Available for Review
Conceptual alignment renderings are now available for review and comment. These renderings are provided as an overview of the concepts being studied as part of the Pyramid Highway/US 395 Connection study. The renderings display potential solutions to relieve traffic congestion and provide improved east/west connectivity within the study area and to determine the footprint for the initial environmental field studies which will begin in December 2009. More detailed engineering will follow the findings of the environmental field studies and additional traffic analysis which will take place through early 2010.
Comments and questions regarding the conceptual renderings may be directed to dmaloy@rtcwashoe.com
Pyramid Freeway Concept rendering includes:
- Conceptual transition from Pyramid Freeway to an arterial north of Eagle Canyon
- Conceptual interchange and frontage road locations along northern Pyramid Freeway from Sparks Boulevard to Eagle Canyon
- Conceptual Pyramid Freeway on existing alignment between Disc Drive and Sparks Boulevard with frontage Roads
- Conceptual Pyramid Freeway alignment traversing through the hills west of existing Pyramid Highway and commercial/residential developments
- Click here to view Pyramid Freeway conceptual rendering
The New Connector from US 395 to Vista Boulevard rendering includes:
- Two Connector Interchange Concepts at US 395
- Three Connector Concepts from west Sun Valley to Pyramid Freeway
- One Connector Concept from Pyramid Freeway to Vista Boulevard
- Click here to view Pyramid/US 395 Connector conceptual rendering
The alternatives analysis process has been designed to identify those alternatives that best satisfy the study's Purpose and Need and warrant additional study, while eliminating under-performing alternatives. For this study, the process has been broken down into three (3) screening levels. Those alternatives that remain at the end of each consecutive level undergo increasingly rigorous analysis to determine which alternative(s) best suit the Purpose and Need identified at the beginning of the study while minimizing environmental impacts. The end result will be a preferred alternative(s) which will be thoroughly evaluated for environmental impacts and possible mitigation measures. The preferred alternative(s), its impacts, and associated mitigation measures will then be described in detail within the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Wetland Delineation and Noise Field Surveys Begin in December 2009
Starting in December 2009, specialists from RTC and their consultants will conduct wetland delineation and noise field surveys for this study. The purpose of these surveys is to document existing wetland areas and noise levels within the study's environmental footprint (see field study area figure below) to aid in determining potential impacts from alternatives that may evolve from this study. These surveys are generally non-invasive.
You may have received a letter from the RTC requesting access to your property for these field surveys. If so, please take a moment to complete the "Permission to Enter" form and return it using the prepaid, self-addressed envelope enclosed in the letter. Please call RTC's Project Manager--Doug Maloy--at (775) 335-1865 if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your assistance!
Environmental and Preliminary Engineering Field Surveys
Starting this Fall, specialists from RTC and their consultants will conduct environmental and preliminary engineering surveys for this study (see figure below). The purpose of these surveys is to document existing environmental and physical conditions in order to determine potential impacts from alternatives that may evolve from this study. These surveys can include, but are not limited to, surveys for wetlands, wildlife and wildlife habitat, endangered species, water resources, historic and archaeological sites, hazardous materials, noise monitoring, visual assessments, and preliminary engineering. These surveys are generally non-invasive, and at the most, consist of digging small holes to test soil and/or placing marker flags on the property. The bulk of these field surveys will be completed by Spring of next year, but may extend to the end of the year.
You may have received a letter from the RTC requesting access to your property for these field surveys. If so, please take a moment to complete the "Permission to Enter" form and return it using the prepaid, self-addressed envelope enclosed in the letter. Please call RTC's Project Manager--Doug Maloy--at (775) 335-1865 if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your assistance!
Frequently Asked Questions
Will there be people in my backyard?
In most cases field observations can be made from adjacent property, over fences, or by other non-direct access. For specific investigations such as noise monitoring, direct access may be necessary.
Who may show up on my property, when, and how long will they be there?
Field work is done by professionals with specific skills such as biologists, hydrologists, historians, and planners. A field visit usually consists of only one or two people and lasts less than a day. In some rare cases, it may be necessary for a second, follow-up visit. Field work is anticipate to begin in October 2009 and continue into early 2010. Some follow-up work may be required later next year.
Will I be notified the day someone shows up?
There is no formal notification the day field observations are made. As a courtesy, staff may knock on the door so homeowners know what they are doing, where they intend to access, and how long they will be there.
Will my property be impacted or disturbed?
Property is not directly impacted by any of the field observations made. In some situations, small flags or other temporary markings may be placed to identify areas of interest.
Does this mean a road project may take my property?
Most likely not. The area being evaluated as part of this study is far larger than the road improvements being considered. In addition, this study is for long-term improvements that, if constructed, would not be in place for at least 10 years.
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