BOARD OF REGENTS BRIEFING PAPER. 1. Agenda Item Title: Tropicana Ave. Improvements Right of Way

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1 BOARD OF REGENTS BRIEFING PAPER 1. Agenda Item Title: Tropicana Ave. Improvements Right of Way 2. BACKGROUND & POLICY CONTEXT OF ISSUE: The UNLV Master Plan approved by the Regents in March 2004 called for the construction of a parking structure and creation of a new main entrance to the Maryland Campus from Tropicana Ave. The new Tropicana Parking Structure was completed in the Fall of 2009, and part of the planning for this new facility was the creation of a major new entrance to the Thomas & Mack (T&M) parking lot directly off Tropicana Avenue. The current traffic flows in and out of the parking areas by the T&M area are not effective, especially getting traffic off and on to Tropicana. Therefore, UNLV initiated a project to improve parking ingress/egress, traffic safety and traffic flow to create the new entrance on the southern perimeter of the campus between Bock St. and Swenson St. This requirement was also identified in the traffic study completed for the new parking structure in April This project (estimated at about $600,000 from UNLV non-appropriated parking funds) includes an improved right turn lane into the T&M parking lot, improved exit lane onto eastbound and westbound Tropicana Ave. and a new traffic signal at Bock St. These improvements will accommodate the increased daily traffic load that has resulted from the construction of the new 1,007 vehicle south parking structure. While the current financial pressures makes the construction of this project not feasible at this time, we would like to move ahead and get the easements approved so that we can move the project ahead at some future date. It is also possible that there may be an opportunity in the future when this project could be combined with other County/State work, and having all the approvals in place would allow us to take advantage of any such opportunities. Creation of the traffic improvements requires that the portions of NSHE/UNLV property be conveyed for rights of way. The turn lane right of way shown in the attached legal description and aerial photo (4,216 square feet) must be conveyed to the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) that is responsible for Tropicana Ave. An easement for the exit from the Thomas and Mack Center onto Tropicana Ave. (1,153 square feet on the attachments) and the right of way to the southwest corner of Bock St. and Tropicana Ave. for the installation of the traffic signals (350 square feet also shown in the attachments) must be conveyed to Clark County. 3. SPECIFIC ACTIONS BEING RECOMMENDED OR REQUESTED: President Neal Smatresk requests approval for future conveyances described in the table below. The actual conveyances would not be submitted for action to the County and/or NDOT until such time that the construction project for the traffic improvements has been approved and funded (assumed to be within the next three to five years). These conveyances, shown in the attached legal descriptions, are required to complete turn lane improvements to Tropicana Ave. and installation of a traffic signal at Bock St. on the southwest edge of the UNLV Maryland Campus (shown on attached map). These changes are required to improve traffic flow and ingress/egress to the southern Thomas and Mack Center parking lots and new parking structure. Conveyance To Type Description Exhibit (Attached) NDOT Gift Deed for Right of Way Clark County Easement to Clark County Right-of-way to be dedicated to NDOT on NW quadrant of Maryland Parkway and Tropicana Avenue. This provides a right turn lane into Thomas and Mack Center parking lots for westbound traffic from Tropicana and Maryland Parkway. Easement to be dedicated to Clark County on NW quadrant of Maryland Parkway and Tropicana Legal-APN sf.pdf Legal-APN sf.pdf (INVESTMENT AND FACILITIES COMMITTEE 06/03/10) Ref. IF-9, Page 1 of 23

2 Clark County Right-of-way to Clark County Avenue. This provides for full exit traffic lanes from the Thomas and Mack parking lots to the proposed signal at Tropicana and Bock. Right-of-way to be dedicated to Clark County at the Northeast corner of Tropicana and Bock. This provides for the location of signal equipment. Legal-APN sf.pdf 4. IMPETUS (WHY NOW?): We would like to complete all approvals for this project so that it can move ahead at some future date. The County/State has just recently completed their approval, a process that has taken nearly two years. Having all approvals in place will allow us to move forward on the project at some future date. It is also possible that some opportunities will arise in the future that allows this project to move forward at significantly reduced cost and, by having all approvals in place, we will maximize our chances for taking advantage of those opportunities. A solution that improves existing traffic congestion and traffic safety issues has been identified and final approval by the County and State have been received. 5. BULLET POINTS TO SUPPORT REQUEST/RECOMMENDATION: This project will significantly improve traffic safety and traffic flow on the southern perimeter of the Maryland Campus for students, employees and the many attendees of events at the Thomas and Mack Center and is a very critical improvement for the traffic circulation for the campus. Having all approvals in place would allow us to proceed with this project at some future date, especially if there were new county/state projects that materially impacted the financial feasibility of this project. 6. POTENTIAL ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE REQUEST/RECOMMENDATION: Don't get Board approval for the easements now. Wait until the future and then seek such approvals. Improvements to campus traffic flow are not needed or important. 7. ALTERNATIVE(S) TO WHAT IS BEING REQUESTED/RECOMMENDED: Wait until a future date to seek these same easement approvals from the Board. Don't ever consider this project for the campus. 8. COMPLIANCE WITH BOARD POLICY: X Consistent With Current Board Policy: Title #_4 Chapter # 10 Section #_1.9.a_ Amends Current Board Policy: Title # Chapter # Section # Amends Current Procedures & Guidelines Manual: Chapter # Section # Other: Fiscal Impact: Yes X No Explain: The NSHE/UNLV property will be conveyed to NDOT and Clark County at no charge (INVESTMENT AND FACILITIES COMMITTEE 06/03/10) Ref. IF-9, Page 2 of 23

3 which slightly reduces the Maryland Campus property holdings. The traffic improvement project is estimated to cost approximately $600,000 from UNLV non-appropriated parking funds identified in the construction budget for the Tropicana Parking Structure. Construction for this project would begin when economically feasible. (INVESTMENT AND FACILITIES COMMITTEE 06/03/10) Ref. IF-9, Page 3 of 23

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22 UNLV - Tropicana Ave. Traffic Improvements Straighten exit Create right turn lane Add traffic signal (INVESTMENT AND FACILITIES COMMITTEE 06/03/10) Ref. IF-9, Page 22 of 23

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