Panel shrinks cost to Las Vegas to reopen F Street

CARSON CITY - The city of Las Vegas will have to pay only $8.1 million - not the $22.5 required in a state law - toward the costs of reopening F Street in Las Vegas, legislators decided Thursday.

Members of the Interim Finance Committee agreed to the change after being told by a legislative lawyer that the committee had the legal authority to reverse the amount. Most Republicans voted against the change.

Sen. Ben Kieckhefer, R-Reno, had asked how the interim committee could change the will of the entire Legislature. After being told it could, he responded, "Strange." He then voted no.

After the vote, state Transportation Director Susan Martinovich said bids will be sought within a month from construction companies to reopen the street. A portion must run under Interstate 15, and the project will take a year to complete, she added.

The project is expected to cost
$18.85 million, including $14.65 million on the construction. The Transportation Department will pay most other costs.

The street in the historic black community was closed by the state in 2008 as part of a $240 million project to widen I-15.

Residents in the community complained that they were not properly notified by the Transportation Department of the move to lose the street.

Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, won support for a bill to reopen the street. He argued that the closure cut residents off from places of employment and entertainment.