Updated July 2005

With all the amenities the Las Vegas Valley has to offer, it is no mystery why the US Census Bureau identifies Clark County as one of the fastest growing counties in the nation. According to the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, every 24 hours, 365 days a year, another two acres of Las Vegas land are developed for commercial or residential use. The City of Las Vegas is planning for this growth with the development of several land use plans. PROJECT NEON is located adjacent to several planning areas including the Medical District, Downtown South, Arts District, and Parkway Center.

Due to the rapid development, improvement projects like PROJECT NEON are needed to address transportation issues associated with the increasing population. Staying up to date allows the project development team to consider and incorporate the Las Vegas ValleyÕs growth patterns in the design process.

Since a tremendous amount of planning and coordination is required, the team will continue to commit its resources in developing and maintaining partnerships with the project stakeholders. As part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, the PROJECT NEON team is committed to minimizing potential impacts to the surrounding community. As a result, the project team is continuing to refine and develop the alternatives that will be analyzed in-depth in the Environmental Impact Statement.

Why the NEPA Process is Important to PROJECT NEON and the Surrounding Communities

For transportation projects, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and other transportation agencies to examine and avoid or minimize potential impacts to the social and natural environment when considering approval of proposed projects. In addition to evaluating the potential environmental effects, FHWA must take into account the transportation needs of the public in reaching a decision that is in the best overall public interest. The PROJECT NEON project development team is currently in the early study phase of the NEPA process.

As mentioned in our February 2005 project update on our website, www.ndotprojectneon.com, and our 2005 winter edition newsletter, the team is undergoing additional in-depth studies due to the potential magnitude, complexity and associated environmental impacts of PROJECT NEON.

As part of the NEPA study process, the FHWA will evaluate reasonable design alternatives, along with a "no build" alternative, and the public will have many opportunities to provide input. Environmental studies for the NEPA document, along with public and stakeholder participation, will aid in determining the most appropriate alternative(s) that satisfies the purpose and need of the project. However, because PROJECT NEON is still in the study phase, nothing can be determined until the studies are complete and environmental approval is received from the FHWA. As the project progresses and additional comments are received and studies are performed, the alternatives are subject to modification. Therefore, potential environmental impacts, property relocations and alternative selection cannot be determined at this time.

The environmental impacts to be evaluated include air quality, noise and water quality; historic resources; social impacts, including effects on low income or minority populations; economic impacts on businesses; and construction impacts on the local community, commuters and interstate travelers.

As always, the project development team encourages the public and other interested stakeholders to stay actively involved to ensure community needs can be balanced with the valley's transportation needs. To stay informed on this subject and all others relating to this project, you can visit the project office at 1640 Alta Drive, Ste. 11, or call the toll free hotline at 1-888-411-NEON (6366) to speak with an information specialist.