About the Study

NDOT conducted a large-scale, systemwide traffic study of the Las Vegas metro area to:

• Identify congestion, mobility needs  
• Evaluate alternatives and develop solutions
• Perform cost-benefit analysis to quantify return on investment

Planning and Environmental Linkage

For several of the areas studied, NDOT took a Planning and Environmental Linkage (PEL) approach to bring efficiency to future projects.

The Planning and Environmental Linkage (PEL) process identifies and considers environmental constraints early in the planning process. The process also involves soliciting input and feedback from public and agency stakeholders outreach to inform the PEL products and results. In this way decisions that are made during the PEL process are useful during subsequent National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) studies. This reduces the need to duplicate the effort during NEPA. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) promotes the use of PELs to improve transportation decision-making while adding efficiency to the planning and environmental processes.

The PEL Study is part of the larger traffic study and includes these three areas:

• I-515 from Charleston Boulevard to I-215
• I-215/I-515 system interchange
• I-15/CC-215/I-215 system interchange

Purpose and Need

Population in the valley is growing. With this growth will come an increase in traffic on freeways and interstates. The purpose of these projects will:

• Decrease congestion on roads
• Improve safety conditions

The Report and Appendices can be found with the following links:  

SNTS Final Report

SNTS Executive Summary

Appendices:

• Appendix A Traffic Forecasting Methods and Assumptions

• Appendix B Traffic Operations Methodology and Assumptions Memo

• Appendix C 2017 Aimsun Next Model Development and Calibration Report

• Appendix D Existing Conditions Report

• Appendix E Future Conditions Report

• Appendix F Benefit-Cost Analysis

• Appendix G Information Graphics

• Appendix H Data Collection Plans

• Appendix I Alternatives Development Workshop

• Appendix J Planning and Environmental Linkage (PEL) Report

• Appendix K Steering Committee Meeting Materials

• Appendix L 10% Design Sheets

• Appendix M Cost Estimates

• Appendix N Eastern Bypass Analysis

• Appendix O Public Involvement

• Appendix P I-15/I-215 Executive Summary

• Appendix Q I-515 Executive Summary