LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Yesterday Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), Chairwoman of the Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, was joined by Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to highlight the recent $23.9 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) grant awarded to the City of Las Vegas. This funding was made possible through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which Rep. Titus championed. They also discussed transportation priorities for Southern Nevada.

This money will support the Stewart Avenue Complete Streets Project by installing a protected two-way bicycle lane and developing prediction technologies for cyclists and pedestrians near intersections. It will also widen sidewalks and remove obstructions to meet ADA accessibility guidelines. Furthermore, the funding will be used to upgrade lighting, make bus stop improvements, and add landscaping.

“The Stewart Avenue Complete Streets Project will facilitate mobility, make our streets safer and greener, and promote environmental equity,” said Rep. Titus. “I look forward to continuing my partnership with Secretary Buttigieg and the Department of Transportation to ensure we are making necessary infrastructure investments in Southern Nevada which will create good-paying jobs, make transportation safer, and enhance travel to our country’s tourism capital in Las Vegas.”

Background

Last Tuesday, the Department of Transportation awarded $23.9 million to the City of Las Vegas as part of the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) grant program.

The Las Vegas Citywide Intersection Crash Mitigation Report (2021) identified the Stewart Avenue/Eastern Avenue intersection as the second most dangerous intersection in the City. Walking and biking account for over 35% of travel along Stewart Avenue, including many elementary-aged children attending three schools in the area.

The Stewart Avenue corridor also spans an area where the population has the highest vulnerability to heat in the region, according to the RTC Extreme Heat Vulnerability Analysis (2021). Las Vegas experiences a severe urban heat island effect with a trend of increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations. To help reduce risks associated with heat islands, the project will plant 700 new street trees to improve shade and ameliorate the impacts on pedestrians.

The project promotes equity and benefits underserved populations in Las Vegas. The covered area is a designated Area of Persistent Poverty, as well as a Historically Disadvantaged Community with 30% of residents living in poverty which is more than double the city average. With public transit serving as a primary system of mobility in the community, these investments will help improve access to daily needs, including employment, education, and healthcare services.

###