The flagship Center Street Cycletrack project is a protected bike lane that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our area by getting thousands of more people safely on bikes, riding from the university through downtown to midtown on Center Street. What better way to protect the environment and our students right now than encourage riding a bike instead of driving a car. Even better, this project has been studied over and over as the most practical location for a connection between UNR and midtown because it can be done with minimal impact to traffic and it is already under design.

Unfortunately, the City and RTC have put a pause on the approved project at the urging of The Row Casinos to study a bike path on Virginia street instead. This is causing months and even years of delays. That is despite the concept of a bike path on Virginia having already been studied in April 2019. Special event closures and traffic on Virginia led to a dismissal of the idea of a bike path on Virginia Street because it would “cause unacceptable traffic operations throughout the corridor”. Still, the City and RTC are going to spend $150,000 on a public opinion survey to study it again, putting months and even years of delays on this project.

Public opinion was clear in the studies of the Center Street project, that we need it now to slow the effects of climate change, solve traffic and parking, improve traffic safety, improve the local economy, put more money in people’s pockets and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

It is the Center Street Cycletrack that kicked off the re-imagining of downtown. It is imperative that we make our voices heard and tell city and county leaders that it is still a key component of re-imagining a healthier, safer, more connected, and vibrant city.

Over the next few months, we will engage in a constant drumbeat, telling the Reno City Council and RTC to keep moving forward with what has been approved, budgeted, and shown to work: the Center Street Cycle-track.

For the first time, Reno could have a safe, comfortable, and protected bike lane for thousands of students, families, and tourists to move quickly from the university through downtown to midtown.

If you support Center Street Cycletrack, please contact your City Council member or RTC board member and consider attending an RTC or Reno City Council Meeting and presenting public comments similar to what you read above.

CITY OF RENO: Email your support for the Center Street Cycletrack to publiccomment@reno.gov, or by leaving a voicemail at 775-393-4499.

RTC: rtcpubliccomments@rtcwashoe.com or call (775) 335-0018

SUGGESTED MESSAGE: Hello, my name is ____________ and I represent ___________. I would like my public comments to support the Placemaking study underway and emphasize that the Center Street Cycletrack represents the vision of a vibrant, safe, connected, diverse and walkable downtown. The City of Reno and RTC should continue to move forward with this vision to boost the economy immediately, reduce traffic and parking problems, and do our part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Immediately lift the pause on the Center Street Cycletrack and let’s keep moving forward. Thank you.