Pedestrian congestion

At a time when government overreach is all the rage, the Clark County Commission is taking a restrained approach to easing sidewalk congestion on the Las Vegas Strip. That’s a good thing.

Last year, when the commission began the process of studying pedestrian movement throughout the resort corridor, civil libertarians were rightly skeptical. After all, the county has tried many times to curtail handbilling on the Strip with obviously unconstitutional ordinances that were tossed out by the courts. Costumed street performers also create choke points along sidewalks, but they, too, enjoy constitutional protections.

But instead of targeting individual activity, last week the commission moved forward with a plan to remove physical obstacles to pedestrian movement. The commission approved a $528,800 contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates, the consulting firm that conducted last year’s study, to begin design work on moving and removing signs, traffic signals, landscaping barriers and fire hydrants, and better aligning crosswalks with sidewalks. More than 200 such obstacles have been identified.

It’s a good approach toward improving visitors’ experiences on the Strip without running afoul of the Constitution. The commission is rightly protective of the Strip, this state’s economic engine, but it must be equally protective of everyone’s First Amendment rights. Last week’s action accomplished both goals.