FY2024
Community Funding Project Requests
Congresswoman Titus is requesting funding through the appropriations process for the following projects to help Southern Nevadans:
Advanced Public Transit Driver Assistance: The requested funding would assist the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) with plans to help reduce the number of fatalities by installing advanced technology on its fleet that will increase safety, reduce accidents, and protect the traveling public. In 2021, Nevada had 382 traffic fatalities, making it the deadliest year on roadways since 2006 – an increase of 18% from the previous year and a 22% increase for Clark County. Among these were 85 pedestrian deaths, an increase from 82 the previous year, and motorcyclist deaths which increased from 60 to 79 in 2021. Fatalities and fatal crashes on NV roads have generally increased over the past 10 years, making efforts to improve roadway safety a critical priority for the RTC. The project would install video mirrors on 425 fixed route transit vehicles, replacing the current traditional mirrors with high-definition digital cameras and interior displays for optimized visibility and enhanced ergonomics. The mirrors will also provide a better visual of blind spots and notifications to drivers for safe lane changes.
Analytical Equipment for Standardized Tectonic Measurement: The requested funding would support current labs at UNLV with the necessary equipment for tectonic and thermochronology research which can be applied to economic geology, mineral resources, and earthquake hazard analyses. This funding would strengthen and synergize research among Nevada System of Higher Education universities, colleges, and state agencies, help develop geochronology standard materials for the wider scientific community, and save money that would otherwise go towards students having to travel out-of-state for this critical research.
Bruce Street Complete Streets: The project will cover the design and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of Complete Streets improvements along Bruce Street between Bonanza Road and Owens Avenue to better serve nearby residents and school children, improve bike/pedestrian comfort and safety, and integrate other sustainable improvements for the community. This project would be a continuation of a longstanding regional effort to bring connectivity between the downtown areas of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas via Complete Streets improvements, and would include buffered bike lanes, widened sidewalks, enhanced streetlighting, and pedestrian curb extensions, along with public open spaces and other pedestrian-focused upgrades. Las Vegas was originally developed with cars in mind and, when constructed decades ago, the roads were built straight and wide to maximize vehicular throughput with little thought for multimodal users. As population and demand have changed, these thoroughfares have become a barrier to mobility for people who live and work in Las Vegas, particularly the vulnerable road users who must walk, bike, roll, or take transit. The proposed improvements will revitalize the corridor and enhance transportation safety by providing a designated space for each mode in the street cross section and increase mobility choices in the area.
City of Henderson Prototype Park: This project would assist the City of Henderson with developing a Prototype Park that would be centered around water conservation, lessening the heat island impact, sequestering carbon, and providing a recreational outdoor space for the community. The Colorado River Basin is currently experiencing one of the worst droughts in its history, and over the last two decades the Southern Nevada region has focused on comprehensive water conservation measures. These measures have led the nation, and the region uses 27 billion gallons of water less per year compared with two decades ago. As part of that regional leadership, the City of Henderson aims to develop a Prototype Park which would include the use of artificial turf, large man-made shade structures, alternative power sources, wind towers, and drought tolerant plant material. The park would be implemented through a renovation of Wells Park in the historic Pittman neighborhood, a currently underserved area.
City of Henderson Public Safety Officer Mental Health & Wellness Program: This project would assist the City of Henderson with implementing a comprehensive Mental Health and Wellness program for law enforcement officers and police employees through the following components: 1) Confidential Mental Health Visits; 2) Education and Awareness; 3) Peer Support; 4) Wellness Programs; and 5) Technology Applications for 24/7 Confidential Peer Support. Across the United States, there is a growing concern over the mental health and well-being of law enforcement officers and public safety professionals who are at high risk for experiencing PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. Recent studies have shown a staggering number of law enforcement officers and public safety professionals committing suicide, which highlights the urgent need for a robust mental health and wellness program that offers proactive and progressive interventions which will ensure the city is managing critical incidents, crime, roadway safety, and other services that impact the daily life of every member of our community. Due to restrictions put in place for FY24 in the House of Representatives, this project has been scaled back to apply to only police officers rather than additional first responders.
Erosion Control Structures in the Lower Las Vegas Wash: The requested funding would be used for the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to construct erosion control structures in the Lower Wash in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area which will protect existing infrastructure, restore surrounding wetlands, and improve drinking water quality for the region. The BOR has been assisting with erosion control and restoration of the Wash, including through the reduction of sediment load which is important because the Wash discharges into Lake Mead, the primary drinking water source for Southern Nevada. With the Las Vegas Wash serving as a return flow conveyance, it helps increase the amount of water Nevada can withdraw from Lake Mead, as well as serving as an important environmental resource by providing wetland habitat.
Expanding the Southern Nevada Water Authority's Septic Conversion Program: This project would facilitate the expansion of the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s (SNWA) Septic Conversion Program, which would assist more homeowners voluntarily transition from a septic system to a municipal sewer system. With continued declines in Lake Mead expected, the region is maximizing every available water resource, including through the capture of wastewater from homes and businesses connected to the municipal sewer system which is then sent to a treatment facility and returned to Lake Mead. There are, however, more than 14,000 homes on a septic system, and it can cost anywhere between $20,000 - $200,000 to connect to the sewer system. The SNWA developed a Septic Conversion Program to help homeowners offset these costs. Dozens of residents have already expressed interest in the program so additional funding is needed. Incentivizing the voluntary connection to the public sewer system through this program will further the region’s efforts to reduce consumptive use, which is important considering the severe, prolonged drought conditions in the Colorado River Basin.
Hardware and Software Upgrades at UNLV’s National Supercomputing Institute: This project includes quantum computing technology upgrades to the National Supercomputing Institute to support a high-performance computing environment across the Nevada System of Higher Education. With its direct applications in various fields, this technology will help uncover solutions to previously intractable problems and deliver substantially increased computational power for running advanced cybersecurity applications and solving complex cybersecurity problems, both major goals for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
High Injury Network Streetlight Safety Upgrades: The project encompasses the City of Las Vegas’s conversion of existing high pressure sodium (HPS) and first generation LED streetlight luminaires to more resilient and energy efficient Next Generation LED luminaires focused along several of the City’s High Injury Network corridors. The requested funding would be put towards procurement and installation of over 3,500 upgraded streetlights along seven corridors/areas to improve safety for all modes of transportation. The upgraded LED streetlights will provide more natural, uniform lighting along each corridor and at intersections, significantly increasing visibility. Well-illuminated crosswalks will not only help drivers see pedestrians in time to stop but also will help make people walking, biking, and rolling through the area feel safer. With 61% of the City’s serious injuries and fatalities occurring in dark lighting conditions for pedestrians, it is clear that the presence of quality streetlighting is essential to the comfort and safety for motorists, pedestrians, and the larger community. The City also proposes to install tamper-proof, lockable handhole covers on each streetlight replaced to protect vital infrastructure from copper theft. On average, the energy use associated with LED streetlights is 50% lower than that of traditional HPS streetlights as less energy is needed to provide a similar amount of brightness. This increased efficiency will directly correlate to energy cost savings for the City, freeing up valuable funds for other essential needs.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Emergency Command Vehicle Replacement: This project will assist the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) with replacing an Emergency Command Vehicle that was put into service in 2007. The vehicle serves as a critical component in effective response capabilities and is a crucial central command and control platform for all incidents, including the department’s SWAT unit’s response to subject barricades, hostage rescues, and large-scale emergencies. On scene commanders and negotiators have a platform that allows full scene situational awareness to include asset and officer location and communication, drone and robot camera feed visualization, and air support feed communication and visualization.
Lutheran Social Services of Nevada Senior Services Center (Clark County, Nevada): The project will expand Lutheran Social Services of Nevada's Senior Services Center to include the JOURNEY Senior Services Center which will help address food insecurity among seniors in the area. The 2021 Elders Count Nevada report shows that 9.6% of Nevadans over 65 fall beneath the poverty threshold, a figure that is likely to increase. In addition, the most recent full Feeding America report on senior hunger (“The State of Senior Hunger in 2020”) indicated that nearly 6.2% of seniors were food insecure, with 3.0% having very low food security. These trends, unfortunately, hold true in Southern Nevada. Through the expansion of LSSN Senior Services Center, opportunities will open for 350 seniors to avoid isolation by congregating and enjoying free and nutritious meals with their friends and neighbors within an area that is a food desert. The seniors will also avoid food insecurity by having access to the DigiMart Food Pantry and the Heart of the City Senior Meal Program which will offer meals to seniors at the LSSN campus on Boulder Highway five days per week.
Pavement Preservation and Safety Improvements on US 95 South of I-11 near Boulder City, Nevada: The requested funding will assist the Nevada Department of Transportation with improvements in the area, including pavement preservation in order to ensure reliability for travelers, environmental improvements for the endangered tortoises, hydraulic improvements for a more resilient stormwater system, and structural improvements to bridges. Additional safety countermeasures will be implemented, including enhanced striping and edgeline and centerline rumble strips to prevent crashes with opposing traffic.
Pavement Rehabilitation, Structure Improvements, Hydraulic Modifications, and Environmental Improvements on US 93 and SR 173: This project would rehabilitate the existing aging pavement, analyze and upgrade existing hydraulic drainage facilities, repair and overlay existing bridge decks to preserve and protect structural integrity of these features, and repair and install new tortoise fences to protect the endangered species habitat located within the project limits. Funding these improvements would not only promote environmental stewardship, but it would also save taxpayers money in the long-run on costs for full-scale rehabilitations.
Reconstructing the Airfield Rescue and Fire Fighting Station at Harry Reid International Airport: The requested funding will bring the existing Airfield Rescue and Fire Fighting Station (ARFF) at Harry Reid International Airport up to current FAA standards. The station was designed and built circa 1982 and needs to be improved to meet current safety, operational, and environmental standards. Additionally, by incorporating the latest energy and water conservation technologies, the station will become both sustainable and a world class facility at Nevada’s busiest commercial airport that hosted an all-time high of 52.6 million passengers in 2022.
Remodeling of the Terminal Building at Henderson Executive Airport: The requested funding will help remodel and expand the existing terminal building at Henderson Executive Airport (HND) which will improve the capacity and energy efficiency of the airport. In the time since the terminal was designed and built, circa 2004, there has been a drastic increase in general aviation traffic into the Las Vegas Valley due to the opening of world class venues, arenas, and stadiums hosting an ever-increasing number of both professional sporting events and major entertainment concerts and shows. With air passenger volumes at an all-time high for Las Vegas, HND’s role as a reliever airport is now more critical than ever to preserve the limited capacity at Harry Reid International Airport for commercial air traffic. Additionally, energy conservation standards have improved, and new practices and technologies are now available to implement which will enhance the energy efficiency of the terminal building, thus cutting costs.
This year, unfortunately, eligible accounts for Community Project Funding in the House have been significantly restricted by the Majority, particularly for priorities focused on education, health, the environment, and workforce development.
Therefore I have sent a letter to Senate appropriators voicing my strong support for projects that would have a positive impact on Nevada’s First Congressional District.
