F Street project approved as lawmakers override Gibbons’ veto

CARSON CITY – The city of Las Vegas and the Department of Transportation must spend as much as $70 million to reopen F Street in the historic black community of West Las Vegas, senators decided late Monday in overriding a veto by Gov. Jim Gibbons.

Senators voted 17-4 to override Gibbons’ veto of Assembly Bill 304. That followed a 29-13 vote Sunday in the Assembly to reject the veto.

Under the bill, the city of Las Vegas will have to commit $22.5 million toward the reopening of the street, closed last year as part of the $240 million project to widen Interstate 15.

Remaining funds will be provided by the Department of Transportation, which will seek federal funds for the project.

During the floor debate, Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, who represents the F Street area, said the costs could be as little as $45 million.

But he said that cost is small compared to the $100 million or more the city could lose in a federal lawsuit filed by residents who want the street reopened.

He maintained that the Department of Transportation hearings on the project only mentioned the widening of I-15 and nothing about F Street being closed. Residents were caught off-guard when the road was closed.

“The F Street closure physically isolates West Las Vegas, cutting residents off from places of employment and entertainment,” said Horsford, D-Las Vegas.

He added the closure reminds residents of earlier days when West Las Vegas — the area generally bordered by Carey Avenue on the north, Bonanza Road on the south, I-15 on the east and Rancho Drive on the west — was isolated through segregation.

West Las Vegas was where African-Americans had to live when Las Vegas was segregated. Famed black entertainers resided there at a time when they could perform, but not stay, in Strip hotels.

Last week NDOT Director Susan Martinovich said F Street might not be reopened for as long as five years. Horsford said if work can be done quickly, the reopening might come in 18 months.

Martinovich added the bill would force the delay of other highway projects in Clark County.

The city of Las Vegas will have to provide $2.5 million in development funds for design changes to the existing I-15 project. The city also must put up $20 million of its capital improvement project budget toward the reopening of the street.

Contact Review-Journal Capital Bureau reporter Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.