City Of Reno: City Of Reno Thanks Federal Delegation For $7 Million Grant To Support Arlington Avenue Bridge Projects

Press release from the City of Reno:

11/18/2021 4:44 PM

Leaders at the City of Reno are pleased to recognize and thank Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Senator Jacky Rosen and Congressman Mark Amodei for supporting a $7 million investment in Department of Transportation (DOT) grant funding to help replace two aging bridges on Arlington Avenue in downtown Reno. 

“We know great cities have great downtowns,” said Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve. “As the crown jewel of our region, the Truckee River adds to the beauty and vibrancy of our downtown. I’d like to give special thanks to Sen. Cortez Masto for writing a letter in support of the grant funding, as well as our regional partners at the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Washoe County for supporting our ongoing efforts to help make our beloved Riverwalk District a safer and more beautiful place for our residents and visitors.”

“I look forward to seeing improvements to the Arlington Avenue corridor, aligning with RTC’s vision for a safe and thriving downtown,” said RTC Chair Neoma Jardon. “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Bill Thomas, Executive Director at the RTC, for his leadership and continuous efforts to work with our state legislators to enhance our region’s bridges and roads.” 

“Support for rebuilding critical, but aging, infrastructure from leaders like Senator Cortez-Masto highlights our support of a vibrant and thriving downtown," said Reno City Manager Doug Thornley. “This grant helps us keep that focus as our city moves forward.”

The Truckee River crossing at Arlington Avenue has served the Reno community and provided access to Wingfield Park for nearly a century. The bridges were built in the 1930s. While structurally safe to drive over, they are showing signs of wear due to age and repeated exposure to flood events.

The Arlington Avenue Bridges Project began in 2019 with a feasibility study to analyze possible replacement bridge types and aesthetic themes, document design and environmental criteria, improve safety and multi-modal access in the Wingfield Park area and review flood-capacity requirements. 

The total project cost is estimated at $25 Million, with construction anticipated to begin in 2024. The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) will receive the $7 Million in funding from DOT and continue to work in collaboration with the City of Reno to complete the project. The funding sources for this project include RTC Fuel Tax, RTC Sales Tax and Federal funds.

Since 2018, Senator Cortez Masto has advocated for and secured more than $107 million dollars in transportation investments in Washoe County, including grants for cleaner bus transition, new and improved RTC assets, highway construction, and the Virginia Street Bus Project. For more information, visit her website.

This press release was produced by the City of Reno. The views expressed here are the author’s own.