FAQs
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What is the timeline on this project? How soon could you be looking at right-of-way activities?
Best case, what would the completion date be for Project Neon?
What are the five phases of Project Neon?
When will Phase 1 of Project Neon break ground?
What are the major elements of phase 1?
What would be the order of phasing for phase one?
What is the cost for Phase I?
What is the total project cost?
Is funding identified for this project?
Why doesn’t the MLK flyover take place in phase I?
Which specific properties will be impacted by Project Neon in Phase 1? How will property owners be notified?
What about property owners who owe more than their property is worth? Will they be left holding the debt?
Will the train be affected by the project alignment?
Will the First Presbyterian Church remain?
What is the access like for Union Park?
Is there any impact to the Metro Complex?
Will I-15 be widened?
What if the freeway needs to be bigger?
Will there be tolling on I-15?
Are there plans to widen Rancho as part of Project Neon?
Will Alta be widened?
Why are you showing a proposal for a project that will likely take nearly 30 years to complete?
What do you see as the true benefit of making these freeway enhancements? Why are we still pouring concrete rather than looking at other options?
How much time will be saved for drivers with Project Neon?
Does Project Neon improve the quality of life?
What are the plans for sound walls in the area of Glen Heather?
What will the construction noise plan be – specifically in residential areas?
Other projects started before Neon are having funding issues, so why move forward with Neon?
Why was the name “Project NEON” chosen?
What is the timeline on this project? How soon could you be looking at right-of-way activities?
The Federal Highway Administration issued a Record of Decision, or ROD, on Project Neon in October 2010, officially approving the project’s final Environmental Impact Statement.
The Nevada Department of Transportation is initiating phase one of Project Neon.
Through the end of 2012, the focus will be on property acquisition and major utility relocations.
Under the Uniform Act, the NDOT Right-of-Way Division will ensure that affected property owners receive fair market value for any acquired property.
Select sewer, water, gas and transmission lines, as well as poles and utilities sharing the poles, will be relocated as needed.
The process could take as many as 18 months or more.
A public meeting is expected this fall/winter.
Best case, what would the completion date be for Project Neon?
First phase best case would be five to six years out.
What are the five phases of Project Neon?
95/15 Connector
Industrial/Oakey/Wyoming
Charleston Interchange
Southbound ramp improvements
Northbound ramp improvements
When will Phase 1 of Project Neon break ground?
Depending on how NDOT chooses to move forward with design and construction, phase 1 could be under final design and construction as early as 2013 and last from three to three-and-a-half years.
What are the major elements of phase 1?
Western-Grand Central Parkway connection
U.S. 95 – HOV - I-15 express lanes connection
HOV direct connect to Wall Street
Charleston interchange reconstruction
Alta slip ramp
MLK – Desert Lane connection
Sound walls
What would be the order of phasing for phase one?
There are at least seven sub-phases of phase one that could be completed in a number of different ways. The goal of the project is to complete whatever it can with any funding available.
What is the cost for Phase I?
This is Phase I of 5. In Phase I there are 3 packages for funding options estimated at $370-$470 million.
What is the total project cost?
Total cost is $1.8 billion over the 20 years of the project.
Is funding identified for this project?
The Regional Transportation Plan has programmed funding through 2030, but it has not been appropriated. Nearly $30 million has been appropriated in the Transportation Improvement Program for phase one in 2011.
Why doesn’t the MLK flyover take place in phase I?
The MLK flyover has been moved to a later phase based on funding availability.
Which specific properties will be impacted by Project Neon in Phase 1? How will property owners be notified?
Impacted parcel owners will receive letters following right-of-way setting to let them know of NDOT intent to purchase.
Parcel owners will then be contacted by the appraiser.
An appraisal will be done, and property owner is invited to accompany appraiser. Property owners may also hire their own appraiser, and all appraisals will be considered when determining the final property value.
Property owner will receive a written offer.
From notification of property purchase to written offer takes roughly 4-6 months.
An agent will be assigned to individual property owners for acquisition and relocation. Negotiations will follow, which can take as long as the project schedule allows.
Agents will help property owners identify multiple relocation opportunities. All moving expenses to locations within 50 miles of current property will be covered. Any costs for moving beyond 50 miles will be up to the property owner.
Property owners and tenants each have a separate acquisition process. Agents will deal with each on an individual basis to ensure proper compensation.
What about property owners who owe more than their property is worth? Will they be left holding the debt?
Though property values are determined based on current market conditions, the state cannot leave a debt. They must purchase the property free & clear. A right of way agent will work with property owners on an individual basis.
Will the train be affected by the project alignment?
The train tracks are outside of the potential right of way, so no acquisition is expected.
Will the First Presbyterian Church remain?
Yes. The project may touch a small piece of property, but the facility as a whole will remain.
What is the access like for Union Park?
Western/Oakey connection provides smoother movement and MLK slip ramps provide access right into outlets.
Is there any impact to the Metro Complex?
The City of Las Vegas is working directly with the owner, and at this point it looks like a corner of the property will be clipped by MLK flyover. Looking to design it to bridge over that corner rather than take property.
Will I-15 be widened?
Eventually, as part of the overall project, I-15 will be widened and essentially moved west of the existing freeway at Charleston.
What if the freeway needs to be bigger?
This is all the roadway building that can be productively done. The future will rely more on transit and other transportation alternatives. Once this project is complete, you get to a point of diminishing returns.
Will there be tolling on I-15?
There is not a current approved plan in place to have tolling on I-15.
Are there plans to widen Rancho as part of Project Neon?
No.
Will Alta be widened?
Not in phase one, but eventually, at full buildout, the road will be widened to six lanes.
Why are you showing a proposal for a project that will likely take nearly 30 years to complete?
Though the entire project in full build-out is likely to take through 2030 to complete, there are portions of it that are nearer term, hence the emphasis on phase one. It is never too early to start planning and if any major changes are proposed to the plan in the future, NDOT will be required to go back out to the public for input.
What do you see as the true benefit of making these freeway enhancements? Why are we still pouring concrete rather than looking at other options?
Transit, and specifically bus rapid transit, and freeway operations are absolutely intertwined. NDOT is providing baseline, fundamental structure to support transit operations. Without efficient freeways, transit cannot have reliable, efficient headways.
How much time will be saved for drivers with Project Neon?
Exact number is difficult to determine, but there are half a million drivers in the I-15 corridor through Las Vegas every day. The demand on the system severely outpaces capacity. Any improvements will benefit the corridor.
Does Project Neon improve the quality of life?
Yes. The direct connector from US95 to I-15 is a freeway within a freeway and provides improved access to homes and neighborhoods.
What are the plans for sound walls in the area of Glen Heather?
Wherever sound walls currently exist, they will be replaced. Exact height will be determined later.
What will the construction noise plan be – specifically in residential areas?
It will be to NDOT standards and customized based on needs at time of construction.
Other projects started before Neon are having funding issues, so why move forward with Neon?
Though there has been some lull in traffic growth, the project is built to 30-year needs. Best benefit, smallest footprint, cost effective.
Benefits include:
-US 95/I-15 connector will help with spaghetti bowl traffic
-Updated interchange at Charleston will improve traffic congestion in that area
-Grand Central / Western Connector will essentially create an I-15 frontage road from downtown to Spring Mountain
Why was the name “Project NEON” chosen?
Las Vegas is famous for many reasons, but perhaps it is best known for its bright neon lights. NDOT came up with the name Project NEON as a way to make a connection between the important transportation improvement project and the city that will benefit from it.
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