Project in Incline Village to keep pedestrians safe

Ten million dollars of Nevada state highway funds will be spent on pedestrian enhancements in the Las Vegas, Reno and Lake Tahoe areas over the next year.

The first $300,000 will be spent on a Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) project that began Tuesday that is relocating a crosswalk and adding safety signs on Highway 28 in the Incline Village.

The project meant to keep pedestrians safer is relocating a crosswalk on State Route 28 west of Village Boulevard closer to existing bus stop and pedestrian crossing points. The crosswalk east of Village Boulevard will remain in place to serve an existing bus stop. Both crosswalks will be enhanced with pedestrian crossing warning signs equipped with rapid flashing beacons activated when pedestrians push the crossing button. Street lighting and sidewalk ramps will be added, along with enhanced pedestrian crossing signs in advance of the crosswalks. Left turn lanes from Country Club Drive to State Route 28 will also be installed with new traffic detection systems to help drivers most efficiently and safely get through the intersection. Construction is projected to complete by the end of fall. Drivers should expect minor, intermittent travel delays during construction.

Funding for this project is one component of an ongoing program to build stand-alone pedestrian safety improvements, as well as incorporate safety improvements into road repaving and other projects. Additionally, NDOT dedicates approximately $21 million annually in federal highway safety funds to roadway safety projects and programs.

Preliminary data shows that 32 pedestrian deaths have occurred on Nevada roads thus far in 2015, compared to 38 deaths in the same time frame last year.

“Every death and serious injury on Nevada roads is a tragedy, and nothing is more important to us than the safety of our transportation system,” Nevada Department of Transportation Director Rudy Malfabon explained. “These projects are an extension of the planning and projects which NDOT and our partners put in place each year to enhance safety and save lives.”

- South Tahoe Now Staff Report