RTC Finishes Keystone Avenue Improvements

The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (RTC) has finished a significant project on Keystone Avenue that will give residents and commuters transportation options and improve safety. A media photo/video/interview opportunity with RTC officials and local leaders will take place Sept. 2 at Keystone Avenue and Kings Row. It will begin promptly at 10:45 a.m., and community members are encouraged to attend and ride their bikes in the new bike lanes.

The RTC has added new bike lanes to Keystone Avenue and replaced deteriorating sidewalks from Coleman Drive to University Terrace. This is a Complete Street Project, which means improve safety and mobility for all types of transportation, including: transit, walking, biking, and driving.

“This type of street treatment has been shown to enhance safety by reducing crashes, the severity of crashes and also encourages people to use methods of transportation besides automobiles,” RTC Chair Neoma Jardon said. Additionally, a new slurry seal treatment was applied to Keystone Avenue from 7th Street to McCarran Boulevard. This treatment will greatly extend the life of the roadway. Properly maintaining roads is significantly less costly to the taxpayers than reconstructing roads after the roads fail.

“This is a prime example of a project that had a relatively short duration, but will have a lasting impact on safety,” RTC Executive Director Lee Gibson said.

This project began in late July and was a $350,000 fuel tax funded project. All traffic controls have been lifted in the area.