1. I-515 Alternatives Development Study
Public Information Meeting
March 31, 2016
Welcome
Welcome!
Introduce yourself
I want to let everyone know that a court reporter will be recording this presentation and the question and answer session that follows
FYI
The flyers and door hangers were distributed Monday 3/28
Newspaper Ads were run
3/17 Review Journal
3/25 El Mundo
3/30 Review Journal
3/31 Review Journal

2. What can I expect tonight?
Introduction to the I-515 Alternatives Development Study
Project Timeline
Opportunity to review preliminary concepts
Opportunity to submit comments
Receive answers from project staff
Note that representatives from other NDOT projects and Zero Fatalities are present.

3. Programmed Projects
This freeway is a congested major freeway in southern Nevada. NDOT has initiated this study to identify and implement near-term improvements on this critical freeway as soon as possible.
Programmed projects in the corridor include:
1. Project Neon limits are from approximately Sahara Avenue on I-15 to Rancho Drive on US This project is presently in the 2016 Statewide Transportation Improvements Program for a total of approximately $ 990 million.
2. The Charleston Interchange Project is focused on interchange improvements on Charleston Boulevard between Lamb Blvd and Pecos Street- This project is also in the 2016 $ million
3. Downtown I-515 Viaduct Rehabilitation for northbound lanes is planned for between 2018 and $ 8 million is in the 2016 STIP

4. Why are we doing this Study?
Improve traffic flow and safety on I-515
The area is approximately 5.58 miles of the I-515 corridor
Traffic jams repeatedly occur during peak travel periods as a result of traffic, bottlenecks, and higher than average crash rates. NDOT initiated this study to identify near-term and cost-effective concepts to improve traffic on I-515 between I-15 and Charleston.  The focus is operations and safety.
The plan is to get improvements built/implemented early solving current operational and safety issues.
We are looking for a few projects that can be implemented within the timeframe of say about the next 10 years, each with a budget/cost, risk and benefits such that the Department can deliver these projects with a high degree of confidence.

5. Purpose and Need Purpose
Improve traffic flow and safety on I-515 between I-15 (Spaghetti Bowl) and Charleston Boulevard Interchange by implementing near-term and cost-effective transportation improvements that are compatible with other future improvements.
Mobility Need
Impaired traffic flow due to high traffic volumes, highway deficiencies, and incidents.
Safety Need
Above-average crashes due to traffic congestion and highway deficiencies.
A purpose and need statement is a requirement
The crash rate for our study section of I-515 is 1.3 crashes per million vehicle miles travelled while the statewide average for similar facilities is 1.0
Congestion extends from 6:30am to beyond 9am and from 3to 6pm. Generally, northbound congestion extends for a longer period.

6. Study Goals Improve traffic flow Improve safety
Do not preclude long-term improvements
Minimize property acquisition
Minimize environmental impacts
Improve access to Downtown Las Vegas
Have independent utility and logical termini
Improve mobility during special events
Maintain and improve multimodal connections
Be compatible with adopted plans
It’s a federal requirement – It generally means that we want to identify “standalone projects” that are useful and of reasonable expenditure.
“Have independent utility” means to have independent significance; that is, be a standalone usable project of reasonable expenditure even if no additional transportation improvements in the area are made. Essentially we want to identify “standalone projects”.
“Logical termini” means that the study corridor be of sufficient length to address environmental matters on a broad scope; or in other words – have rational end points. Having logical termini means choosing a corridor of sufficient length to look at all impacts.
An example of an adopted plan is the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada’s Regional Transportation Plan.

7. Study Approach
NDOT is using a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) approach to shorten the time required to take projects from planning to implementation. Therefore, decisions made during this study could be used in future NDOT environmental studies to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act. More information on this approach can be found at FHWA’s PEL website:
PEL –represents a collaborative and integrated approach to transportation decision making that:
Considers environmental , community and economic goals early in the process
Use information, analysis and products developed during planning to inform environmental review process

8. What is the Study process?
Develop potential improvements that address the goals of the Study
Objectively screen and assess the potential improvements
Group improvements based on compatibility, geographic proximity, and logical termini to develop standalone alternatives and then projects
Prioritize projects

9. Study Screening Process
The screening includes a tiered process where the improvements are refined while being subjected to increased level of analysis and scrutiny at each subsequent tier.
Early in the process we look at any major flaws in our concepts that would make a certain concept unacceptable. In later levels of screening we consider more detailed criteria to ensure that the project provides us value and benefits at reasonable cost.
Step 1 – Does the improvement:
Meet the purpose and need?
Meet a study goal?
Result in an unsolvable environmental impact?
- Is it cost exorbitant?
- Is it opposed by Stakeholders or the public?
Step 2 – Determine if the improvement
improves operations and safety
is geometric and construction feasible
maintains flexibility for planned improvements
Step 3- Determine if improvements are grouped together if they complement each other to address a study goal or if the grouping will provide efficiency or cost savings during construction
Step 4 – Prioritize alternatives. BCA, Cost Estimates, Cost Risk Assessment and Value Engineering are tools used to do this

10. What is the range of alternatives being considered?
No-Action Alternative (Assumes no improvements beyond those currently planned)
Interchange and Ramp Improvements
Collector-Distributor Roads
Auxiliary Lanes (lanes between interchanges)
Congestion Management Improvements (extra exit lane to relieve ramp back-ups)
Enhancement Type Improvements (signs, lighting; trail, pedestrian & bicycle connections, aesthetics)
Transportation System Management Improvements (traffic signal improvements or provisioning an additional left or right turn lanes)
Transit-Supportive Improvements
Examples:
Congestion management improvements could be the addition of an extra exit lane at ramps that currently back up.
Enhancement type improvements could be improving signs, lighting; trail, pedestrian and bicycle connections at a ramp terminal intersection that is being improved, or improvements to the aesthetics of a noise wall that is being moved, or a gateway feature associated with landscaping.
Transportation system management improvements could be traffic signal improvements or the provision of additional left or right turn lanes.

11. What is the Study timeline?
PROJECT MOBILIZATION
Collect data
Determine objectives
Develop preliminary concepts
SCOPING AND FATAL FLAW ANALYSIS
Evaluate concepts against fatal flow criteria
Input from NDOT and other stakeholders
LEVEL 1 COMPARATIVE SCREENING
EJ impacts
Constructability
Operation and safety screening
Assess ROW impacts
Assess ability to implement in short-term
LEVEL 2 QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT
Traffic operations
Safety and Cost assessment
Environmental Impact Assessment
LEVEL 3 EVALUATION
Value Engineering Analysis
Benefit-Cost Analysis
Project Prioritization
PREPARE TOP PROJECTS FOR CONSTRUCTION
Develop conceptual plans for top 3 projects
Clear top project through environmental process
The screening process is underway. The Scoping and fatal flaw analysis is underway. Level 1, 2 & 3 were discussed in slide 9. Prepare top projects for construction discussed in next slide
Each Federal agency shall make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations
FALL MARCH/APRIL 2016
SUMMER 2016
FALL 2016
2017 and beyond

12. Study Products
Prioritized list of projects that address operational and safety issues
Highest priority project(s) selected for environmental review process
Proceed with project development of highest priority project assuming construction as early as 2018

13. We need your help!
Review the preliminary potential improvements on Boards around the room and give us your input and comments
Give us your ideas/concepts for improvements to I-515 in the study area
Sign up to follow our progress on twitter, facebook or on our webpage at Nevadadot.com
Provide us your comments and stay involved

14. Open comment period
Please state your full name prior to your question or statement
Three-minute verbal comment per individual
A court reporter will be recording the presentation and Q&A period and is available to take comments

15. Additional ways to provide comments
Fill out a comment form, included in your handout packet, and place it in the comment box or provide a verbal comment tonight
Submit comment forms by mail to:
Nevada Department of Transportation
Attention: Dwayne Wilkinson P.E., Senior Project Manager
123 E. Washington Avenue
P.O. Box 170
Las Vegas, NV,
Send to with “I-515 Alternatives Development Study” in the subject line
Comments will be accepted until 5 p.m.,
Friday, April 15, 2016

16. Thank you! I-515 Alternatives Development Study
Public Information Meeting
March 31, 2016
Thank you!
Work on the previous project that was looking at roughly 18 miles of the I-515 in Las Vegas, Unincorporated CC and Henderson (Foothill Grade Separation to the Spaghetti Bowl) was formally withdrawn in June 20, 2012.
This work started in 2003 approximately 7.8 million was expended on this effort. This study information that is still applicable is being used in this study effort .