(The Associated Press circulated the following article on November 2.)
RENO, Nev. — Reno’s mayor and city manager headed for Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to make sure that $15 million in the federal highway bill earmarked for completion of the Reno rail trench don’t get sidetracked for hurricane relief.
But Sen. John Ensign says they could have saved the plane fare. The funds are safe.
Mayor Bob Cashell said he and Charles McNeely hoped to meet with Nevada’s congressional delegation and possibly with transportation committee chairmen or their chiefs of staff about the money designated for building a plaza over part of the trench through downtown Reno.
“We’re coming so close to finishing the trench,” Cashell said. “We want to find out where we are. It doesn’t hurt to look them in the eye.”
Ensign, R-Nev., and five other Republican senators introduced legislation last week to cut federal expenses to pay for the relief provided to Hurricane Katrina victims.
Ensign said the reductions would mean “eliminating all of the earmarks in the highway spending bill.”
But Ensign told KKOH Radio in Reno on Wednesday the trench money is secure.
“I love Mayor Cashell and he does not have anything to worry about,” he said. “I wish I could have gotten him ahead of time because I could have told him not to waste a plane ticket because he doesn’t have to worry about the trench being completed. It will be completed.”
The $286.4 billion bill signed by President Bush on Aug. 10 provides for transportation projects through 2009. It includes $15 million for the trench lid and $800,000 to pay for the trench design.
Reno officials want to obtain as much as possible of the $15 million to start the project next summer. Granite Construction Co. is now finishing its work on the trench.
The Reno City Council gave direction last week for a plaza to cover two blocks of the trench west of Virginia Street. A pedestrian bridge and small plaza would be built in front of the historic Amtrak station, creating a link for pedestrians from the Citifare station. Environmental studies are under way for the plaza lid.