The Regional Transportation Commission wants to make improvements to one of the busiest streets in Reno, and they've got more than $1 million to do it. The RTC competed nationally for a grant and is getting $1.3 million for what they call a "Complete Street Project." The object of the Complete Street Project is to make busy streets more user-friendly for people who don't always drive.
Leo Horishny commutes to work on his bike and attended a community workshop hosted by RTC to give his opinion about possible road improvements.
"I live in Sun Valley and commute to Renown Rehabilitation Hospital; it's six miles one way," said Horishny.
Engineers with the RTC won federal money to spend on improvements. Howard Riedl is a senior engineer with RTC. He says the project is designed to create solutions for the Sutro Corridor.
"We have a project to improve the health and safety on Sutro Street from 4th to McCarran. What we want to hear from the public is what they think the problems are and where their priorities are for this corridor," said Riedl.
Possible changes include improved street lighting, bus stop improvements and even on-street parking. Other ideas might be wheelchair friendly intersections and better sidewalks. The RTC has already met with local schools and with a nearby senior center.
"What we're trying to do is promote and give people the opportunity for alternate modes of transportation, so we're interested in giving the public the option of walking, riding their bicycles or taking transit," said Riedl.
The next step is to analyze the suggestions and comments from Tuesday's community meeting and see which ideas are most popular. The RTC will then hold another meeting later this summer to allow people to see the proposed designs for the Sutro Street corridor.
Written by Jennifer Burton
