Demonstration Project FAQ

What is a Public-Private Partnership?
What is the Pioneer Program?
What is the Demonstration Project?
What are the specific benefits of the Demonstration Project?
Who will pay for the Demonstration Project?
How are tolls set and/or how is that controlled?
Who will be allowed to use the Express Lanes?
When will the Demonstration Project open?
Are Unsolicited Proposals Accepted?

What is a Public-Private Partnership?: A public-private partnership (PPP) is a long-term contractual agreement between a government agency and a private company or business venture, with the goal of delivering goods or services. This delivery method has been successfully used in the U.S. and worldwide to fund water projects, hospitals, roads, bridges and power plants, often years before they might otherwise have been available using conventional taxpayer-backed financing. These arrangements usually include the assumption of risks by the private partner, rather than taxpayers, along with specified responsibilities, and performance and quality assurances to the taxpayer. While each entity shares in the risks and rewards, the involved government partner maintains control and ownership of the project.
What is the Pioneer Program?: The State Transportation Board authorized NDOT to explore the possibility of using innovative financing and construction methods as a solution to Southern Nevada's growing transportation, congestion problems. In response, NDOT developed the Pioneer Program, a solution-oriented transportation financing initiative designed to ensure prompt delivery of needed projects, decrease traffic congestion and provide a more efficient transportation system. By enhancing NDOT's ability to form public-private partnerships, the Pioneer Program will bridge the gap between available taxpayer funding and our state's transportation needs.
What is the Demonstration Project?: The I-15/US-95 Demonstration Project is an initiative by the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to examine the effectiveness, value and functionality of managed lanes as a solution to one of southern Nevada's biggest traffic congestion problems. The project will consist of new Express Lanes established to take advantage of the capacity available in existing High Occupancy Vehicle lanes within the I-15/US-95 corridor. The Express Lanes will run approximately 19 miles from the northwest Las Vegas Valley (US-95 at Ann Road) to the southern Las Vegas Beltway (I-15).
What are the specific benefits of the Demonstration Project?: Ultimately, the goal of the Demonstration Project is to improve access to reliable travel in the I-15 Corridor, support the economic vitality of the Las Vegas area and offer commuters a new travel choice. The project will accomplish this goal by reducing overall congestion on the I-15 and US- 95; offering better access to resorts, the airport and downtown areas; providing new public transportation and carpooling opportunities; enhancing safety; and improving incident management and emergency services response. In addition, the project will generate revenues to sustain operations and maintenance of the managed lanes and potentially fund other transportation improvements throughout the Las Vegas area.
Who will pay for the Demonstration Project?: The project meets the criteria for the Pioneer Program and will be financed through a public- private partnership. Private sector investors will cover the costs in return for access to the revenue generated through tolling.
How are tolls set and/or how is that controlled?: Tolls will be determined based on the amount of congestion in the corridor. As congestion increases in the Express Lanes, the toll price will increase, and vice versa, to maintain at least a speed of 55 mph. Using an electronic toll collection system, fees will be collected nonstop at highway speeds. No tollbooths will be used, and signs will indicate current pricing.
Who will be allowed to use the Express Lanes?: The new Express Lanes will be available, free of charge, to transit buses, emergency vehicles and preregistered carpools with three or more passengers. Solo drivers and vehicles with fewer than three occupants who choose to use the new Express Lanes will be charged a fee. Trucks with more than two axles will not be eligible to access the facility.
When will the Demonstration Project open?: I-15/US-95 Demonstration Project is anticipated to be open to traffic by 2014, pending legislative approval.
Does the Nevada Department of Transportation have the authority to accept unsolicited proposals for transportation facilities?: Yes, the Nevada Department of Transportation does have the authority to accept unsolicited proposals for transportation facilities. Nevada Revised Statute sections 408.5471 through 408.549 grants NDOT the authority to accept unsolicited proposals for transportation facilities as defined within the statute. NRS Section 408.548 requires NDOT to adopt rules and regulations as a prerequisite to accepting unsolicited proposals. Parties who may be considering submitting unsolicited proposals should consult the rules and regulations for submitting unsolicited proposals that can be found on the unsolicited proposal process page of this website.