Carson City Nevada - The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) board has approved a list of projects including funding for the next leg of the V&T Railroad reconstruction, the Nevada Appeal reports.
 
The track now stretches from Virginia City past Eastgate depot into the upper end of Carson River Canyon to what was the site of Eureka Siding.
 
The V&T project approved this week would use up to US$3 million in stimulus funding to continue work on the railroad reconstruction.
 
Deputy NDOT Director Kent Cooper said the money from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was available because bids on other projects have come in below expectations.
 
He said the rules allow NDOT to apply leftover discretionary funding to other projects like the V&T.
 
Cooper said the project may not get the full US$3 million in the transportation plan, but should get at least US$1.5 million to US$2 million.
 
"We'll apply that to whatever project they have that would be applicable. If they've got right-of-way, or something else we can accomplish, we'll apply it to that," he said.
 
V&T Railway Commission Chairman Dwight Millard said the commission is right now trying to acquire the property owned by Don Bently to extend their right-of-way down Carson River Canyon.
 
"We're shovel ready. We've got the offer in Bently's hands. We could actually start laying track as fast as they could bid it," he said.
 
The V&T has about 7.2 miles of track to lay to get through the canyon to the planned site of the train station depot near Drako Way.
 
That section of track will be the most scenic part of the 17 mile trip once completed.
 
In addition, the commission is applying for up to US$29 million to finish the historic train project, including construction of the Carson City depot.
 
Commissioner Bob Hadfield said at a commission meeting earlier this year he believes Sen. Harry Reid has a good chance of getting most if not all the money for the project because one of the purposes of stimulus grants is job creation.
 
He said the railroad would not only provide construction jobs, but permanent employment in the retail businesses that will develop at each end of the train ride.
 
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