Assemblywoman Peggy Pierce, D-Las Vegas, listens Friday to the Blue Ribbon Task Force evaluate long-term transportation projects. Seated with Pierce are, from left, Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas, William Horne, D-Las Vegas, and Joseph Hogan, D-Las Vegas. Photo by K.M. Cannon.

CARSON CITY -- Two legislators suggested Thursday that Nevada voters be asked to decide next year whether they want to increase taxes to come up with $3.8 billion needed to construct 13 major highway projects.

"We passed a first Question 10 in Clark County and then a second Question 10. Perhaps we are looking for a third Question 10 to take to voters," said Assemblyman David Parks, D-Las Vegas, referring to two previous highway construction ballot measures in the state's most populous county.

Under his proposal, however, approval would be needed from voters from across the state, although most of the highway projects are in Clark County.

Assemblyman Harry Mortenson, D-Las Vegas, said voters might be given a list of possible taxes and asked to mark the ones they would favor increasing to fund the Nevada Department of Transportation's projected highway construction shortfall through 2015.

"Gas taxes, sales taxes. Give voters a choice," he said.

Their comments came during a meeting in which members of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Transportation addressed the Assembly Taxation and the Assembly Transportation committees. The task force made a similar presentation to the Senate Transportation Committee later in the day.

The task force studied state highway needs for 18 months. In December it proposed raising gasoline taxes, increasing the cost of a driver's license, reducing vehicle depreciation fees, and placing some sales taxes in a highway trust fund to cover the construction shortfall.

But Gov. Jim Gibbons has stated repeatedly that he opposes any new tax increases. Last week the governor criticized the task force, saying members did not give him enough options for funding.

With the governor's opposition to new taxes, the Legislature might have no choice but to pass the issue to voters, the lawmakers suggested.

Senate Transportation Chairman Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, said he does not expect the issue to be decided for "another 115 days," or just before the Legislature's scheduled June 4 adjournment.

Voters in other states generally have backed tax increases for road construction if they are told specifically where highways would be built, according to task force member Tom Skanke.

"Telling fellow Nevadans they have to get used to a two-hour commute is just not acceptable," he said. "Do not be afraid to vote for a tax increase. At some point you have to pay, now or later."

"This will cost a driver of a car about $1.25 a week," task force Chairman Phil Peckman said.

Peckman said his committee found all the projects should be constructed to avoid drivers from being overwhelmed by gridlock.

"We didn't want our proposal to be dead on arrival, but it may be anyway," he said. "We looked at every single tax in the state."

"Nobody likes tax increases, nobody likes fee increases, but the quality of life in Nevada is at stake," said another task force member, Lyon County Commissioner Leroy Goodman.

But state Sen. Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, contended not all highway projects the task force identified as vital are necessary.

He questioned the need to spend $100 million widening U.S. Highway 95 from Washington Avenue to Kyle Canyon Road. He said the Department of Transportation's own studies show that highway will not be overly congested in 2015.

"I'm not suggesting we don't need any construction, but the list of projects to generate this crisis is overly dramatic," he said.

Topping the list of projects the task force identified as vital were:

• The $1.2 billion widening of Interstate 15 from Tropicana Avenue to the Spaghetti Bowl in downtown Las Vegas.

• The $1.3 billion widening of U.S. 95 from the Spaghetti Bowl to Foothills Road in Henderson.

• A $470 million Boulder City bypass to handle U.S. Highway 93 traffic to and from the new bridge being built over the Colorado River.