Creating transportation infrastructure key to getting locals, commuter and visitors out of cars

Lake Tahoe must improve its internal transportation systems before they can expect visitors to the region to get out of their cars and use different, and better, ways of getting around. That was the message during last week's Tahoe Talks presentation by Lake Tahoe transportation partners, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) and El Dorado County.

The draft 2017 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), Linking Tahoe, was released by the TRPA and is now in public comment stage. It will serve as the framework for all projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin for the next 20 years. Every four years the plan will be looked at and adjusted if needed to meet the demands at the time.

Morgan Beryl, Senior Transportation Planner for TRPA, was one of three panelists for Tahoe Talks. She was joined by George Fink of Tahoe Transportation District and John Kahling, ‎Deputy Director of Engineering for El Dorado County.

Ten million vehicles use Lake Tahoe roads annually, moving around 24 million people, an average of almost 55,000 people a day. A key to improving how they move around is collecting data to find out when, where, and how they travel. Agencies are using that data as they create projects meant to move people around the lake.

Linking Tahoe contains over 100 projects that have been identified for investment. They can be viewed and tracked at the Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) at laketahoeinfo.org.

All around the lake there have been active transportation improvements to sidewalks, bike lanes and crosswalks and constructed roundabouts and shared-use paths and many more are in the works, all guided by data-driven plans. They are all created to to make "mega" regional connections so cars will not be needed when visiting Lake Tahoe.

To get to the goal of easier mobility through Lake Tahoe, users are divided into three categories: Everyday Tahoe, Discover Tahoe and Visit Tahoe.

In 2012, "Everyday Tahoe" transportation patterns were identified as being more "walkable" and "bikeable" according to Morgan Beryl, Senior Transportation Planner for TRPA. The "Everyday Tahoe" group are those who move around their area by using local trails and walking areas. Projects to accomplish improved transit for this group were implemented. This group makes up 20 percent of daily trips on Lake Tahoe roads.

In 2017, "Discover Tahoe" plans are beginning to take place. This is the mid-level distance trip out of the neighborhood to the town centers and recreation hubs. This is considered the commuter group. They make up 55 percent of those on the roads in Lake Tahoe on a daily basis.

Transportation patters for the final group, "Visit Tahoe" will be able to be addressed by 2021 after means of transportation are improved for the first two groups. These are the visitors who come to Lake Tahoe from cities outside of the basin for a short-term visit, then leave to return home. They are responsible for 25 percent of the traffic on roads on a daily basis.

With locals, commuters and visitors using the roads in and around Lake Tahoe for different purposes, they all want to get from point A to point B in the most efficient and environmentally responsible way. Mobility hubs are key to accomplishing this, enabling people to move about each corridor around the lake.

Lake Tahoe is divided into six different corridors, and the Tahoe Transportation's District (TTD) Corridor Plan concentrates on the job transportation has to do in each one of the areas.

Current corridor projects that are funded according to the Regional Transportation Plan:

SR 89/Fanny Bridge Community Revitalization Project
U.S. 50 South Shore Community Revitalization Project
Sierra Boulevard Complete Streets Project
U.S. Highway 50 Water Quality Improvement Project
Mobility Improvements at SR 267 / SR 28 Intersection
Meyers Corridor Operational Improvement Project
Meyers Intersection Improvements at US Highway 50 and State Route 89 (SHOPP)
U.S. 50 South Shore Community Revitalization Project
Tahoe City Complete Streets Highway Improvements
Tahoe City Downtown Access Improvements
Apache Avenue Pedestrian Safety and Connectivity Project
US 50 Safety Improvement and Complete Streets
Meeks Bay Highway Corridor Improvements
Tallac Historic Site, Valhalla, and the Visitor Center Improvements
State Route 89 Recreation Corridor Improvements
Round Hill Pines Resort Highway Intersection Improvements
US Highway 50 Water Quality Improvement Project – Wildwood to State Line
West Shore Highway Crossing Improvements

One current project is currently unfunded, the Round Hill Pines Resort Highway Intersection Improvement project.

According to George Fink, Transit System Program Manager for TTD, more bus shelters need to be installed around Lake Tahoe, along with new routes and new buses to be successful. He said new hybrid buses will soon be coming from Las Vegas, buses that are also bigger than the current aging fleet.

"This winter's transportation system was put to the stress test this year," said Fink.

Fink said the casinos don't fund the buses which many of their employees use to commute. The RTP calls for free-to-the-user transit service so they will need partners to help fund that goal. The plan also calls for increasing transit frequency from 60-minute to 30-minute intervals on all main routes, seamlessly connecting North Shore and South Shore transit services, new transit services to heavily-visited recreation sites at Echo Summit, Emerald Bay, and Zephyr Cove, new or enhanced transit services to Meyers and Truckee and enhanced, but limited, inter-regional transit services to and from Sacramento and Reno.

Fink also said a possible ferry system is still at least a decade away from being reality. The boat wouldn't be the issue, it'd be a lack of major docks and connector modes of transportation that would transport the ferry users to their destination.

As Beryl said, internal transportation systems must be in place before the visitor, commuter and local can be expected to move about freely without depending on cars.

Kahling said the County will be concentrating on roads this summer. Their major Black Bart and Barbara Avenue overlay project was completed last year and the same procedures will be used next on Sawmill Pond Road and Elks Club Drive.

Three round-a-bouts are planned for Highway 50 through Meyers, one at the road's intersection with SR-89, another at the intersection with Apache, and the third at Pioneer Trail. Only one is in the near future, the Hwy 50/SR 89 intersection.

Those who missed the Tahoe Talks can see Morgan Beryl's portion of the program to the South Lake Tahoe City Council on Tuesday, March 20. The Regional Transportation Plan will also be open for public comment at TRPA's Governing Board meeting at Incline Village on Wednesday, March 22.