What is the Demonstration Project?
The I-15/US-95 Demonstration Project is
an initiative by the Nevada Department
of Transportation (NDOT) to examine the
effectiveness, value and functionality of “managed
High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes,” commonly
referred to as “Express Lanes,” as a solution to Las
Vegas Valley’s growing traffic congestion problem.
Designed to keep Las Vegas moving and support
the economic vitality and infrastructure needs
of Las Vegas Valley, the Demonstration Project
will consist of new HOT lanes established
within the median of the I-15/US-95 corridor.
Under the current plan, the new lanes would run
approximately 19 miles from the northwest Las
Vegas Valley along US-95/I-15 (at Ann Road) to the
southern Las Vegas Beltway (I-215).
What are the specific benefits of the
Demonstration Project?
Ultimately, the goal of the Demonstration Project
is to keep Las Vegas moving by providing transit
service, improving access to reliable travel in the
I-15 Corridor, supporting the economic vitality of the
Las Vegas area and offering commuters a new travel
choice. The project will accomplish this goal by
providing new public transportation and carpooling
opportunities reducing overall congestion on I-15
and US-95; offering better access to resorts, the
airport and downtown areas enhancing safety; and
improving incident management and emergency
services response. In addition, the project will
generate revenues to finance construction and
sustain operations and maintenance of the lanes,
and potentially fund other transit and transportation
improvements throughout the Las Vegas area.
Who will be allowed to use the new Lanes?
The new I-15/US-95 Express Lanes will be
available, free of charge, to transit buses,
emergency vehicles and preregistered carpools
with three or more passengers. Solo drivers and
vehicles with fewer than three occupants who
choose to use the new lanes will be charged a toll.
Trucks with more than two axles will not be eligible
to access the facility.
How are tolls set and/or how is that controlled?
Tolls will be determined based on the amount of
congestion in the corridor. As congestion increases
in the general lanes, the toll price will increase
and vice versa to maintain smooth flow of traffic
in the lanes. Using an electronic system, tolls
will be collected nonstop at highway speeds. No
tollbooths will be used, and signs will indicate
current pricing.
When will the Demonstration Project open?
I-15/US-95 Demonstration Project is anticipated
to be open to traffic by 2014, pending legislative
approval.
Who will pay for the Demonstration Project?
The project meets the criteria for the Pioneer
Program and could be financed through a publicprivate
partnership. Private-sector investors would
cover all or part of the costs in return for access to
the revenue generated through tolling.
What is the Pioneer Program?
The State Transportation Board authorized NDOT to
explore the possibility of using innovative financing
and construction methods as a solution to Nevada’s
growing transportation infrastructure and congestion
problems. In response, NDOT developed the Pioneer
Program, a solution-oriented transportation-financing
initiative designed to ensure prompt delivery of
needed projects, decrease traffic congestion and
provide a more efficient transportation system. By
enhancing NDOT’s ability to form public-private
partnerships, the Pioneer Program will help bridge
the gap between available taxpayer funding and our
state’s transportation needs.
What is a Public-Private Partnership?
A public-private partnership (PPP) is a long-term
contractual agreement between a government
agency and a private entity or consortia, with the
goal of delivering goods or services. This delivery
method has been successfully used in the U.S. and
worldwide to deliver a wide variety of infrastructure
projects, including roads, bridges, water projects,
hospitals and power plants, often years before
they might otherwise have been available using
conventional public financing. These arrangements
usually include the greater assumption of risks by
the private partner, rather than taxpayers, along
with specified responsibilities and performance and
quality assurances to the taxpayer.
While each entity shares in the risks and rewards,
the involved government partner maintains
control and ownership of the project and sets the
standards under which the private partner must
build, operate, maintain and return the facility.
Tolls will be determined based on the amount of
congestion in the corridor. As congestion increases
in the general lanes, the toll price will increase
and vice versa to maintain smooth flow of traffic
in the lanes. Using an electronic system, tolls
will be collected nonstop at highway speeds. No
tollbooths will be used, and signs will indicate
current pricing.
When will the Demonstration Project open?
I-15/US-95 Demonstration Project is anticipated
to be open to traffic by 2014, pending legislative
approval.
Who will pay for the Demonstration Project?
The project meets the criteria for the Pioneer
Program and could be financed through a publicprivate
partnership. Private-sector investors would
cover all or part of the costs in return for access to
the revenue generated through tolling.
What is the Pioneer Program?
The State Transportation Board authorized NDOT to
explore the possibility of using innovative financing
and construction methods as a solution to Nevada’s
growing transportation infrastructure and congestion
problems. In response, NDOT developed the Pioneer
Program, a solution-oriented transportation-financing
initiative designed to ensure prompt delivery of
needed projects, decrease traffic congestion and
provide a more efficient transportation system. By
enhancing NDOT’s ability to form public-private
partnerships, the Pioneer Program will help bridge
the gap between available taxpayer funding and our
state’s transportation needs.
What is a Public-Private Partnership?
A public-private partnership (PPP) is a long-term
contractual agreement between a government
agency and a private entity or consortia, with the
goal of delivering goods or services. This delivery
method has been successfully used in the U.S. and
worldwide to deliver a wide variety of infrastructure
projects, including roads, bridges, water projects,
hospitals and power plants, often years before
they might otherwise have been available using
conventional public financing. These arrangements
usually include the greater assumption of risks by
the private partner, rather than taxpayers, along
with specified responsibilities and performance and
quality assurances to the taxpayer.
While each entity shares in the risks and rewards,
the involved government partner maintains
control and ownership of the project and sets the
standards under which the private partner must
build, operate, maintain and return the facility.
