State studies Highway 395 and Stephanie

Efforts are under way on a number of levels to get a stoplight at Stephanie Way and Highway 395, following the death of 17-year-old Bridget Chambers. She was killed when her car was hit by a driver making a left-hand turn at the intersection July 15.

Nevada Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Magruder said officials are studying the intersection to see if it qualifies for a traffic signal. In addition to traffic counts, the study will take into account a number of factors, including the number of left turn movements and peak hour traffic.

"Someone has died there. We are definitely addressing this," he said.

In addition to the official response, a grass-roots effort initiated by Gardnerville Ranchos resident Shannon Krupp has gathered more than 2,000 signatures on a petition for a stoplight.

The effort is called "A Light for Bridget" and Krupp said she's been amazed at the community response.

"Other organizations have taken us under their wing to help get signatures for the petition and promote our cause," Krupp said.

For example Curtis Smith, a retired Saratoga Springs resident, got more than 600 signatures at a tractor pull. Together with David Nelson, one of the organizers of the Good Government Group of Douglas County, more than 900 signatures were added to the list.

The petition will be presented to Gov. Kenny Guinn on Sept. 1, Krupp said.

Addressing Wednesday's meeting of the Good Government Group, commissioner Jim Baushke said getting the message to the right people is going to take more effort.

"The issue is the warrants, published by the Federal Highway Administration in Washington D.C.," he said. "Those are the rules the Nevada Department of Transportation has to live with if they use federal funds."

He feels stoplights are also needed at Airport Road, Muller Lane and Ironwood Drive.

"When the light is green at the intersection of highways 88 and 395, drivers are already going 65 to 70 mph when they get to Ironwood," he said. "We should be able to say when and where a stoplight should be located, not some bureaucrat in Washington D.C."

Baushke called the warrants a bunch of baloney. He suggested attacking the problem at the federal level by sending a copy of the petition to Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., Sen. John Ensign R-Nev. and Rep. Jim Gibbons R-Nev.

"Our representatives will most likely take the issue to the Federal Department of Transportation," Baushke said.

When federal officials look at the figures, they will note that the fatality rate is higher in many other states, like Arizona, the Carolinas and the Dakotas, Baushke said.

"That's why it's important to go to Federal level and say, 'this is garbage. We can't solve our problems because of these warrants," Baushke said.

At Wednesday's meeting Coy Peacock, Nevada Department of Transportation project manager for the corridor study from Clearview Drive in Carson City south to the California state line, said additional public meetings would be scheduled to address issues along Highway 395 in October.

"We want to be proactive in that respect," he said.



Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.



BREAKOUT

Anyone wishing to sign the petition to put a stop light at Stephanie Way and Highway 395 can contact Krupp via email at alightforbridget@aol.com. Krupp can also be contacted at 230-4603.