City receives $3 million in grants for South Lake Tahoe projects

Four new projects in South Lake Tahoe will be moving forward after the City was awarded $3 million in grants from the federal government through TRPA's Tahoe Metropolitan Planning Organization (TMPO).

The money will be used for the following:

$1.8 million for design and construction of the Sierra Boulevard Complete Street Project

$510,000 for construction of the Tahoe Valley Greenbelt Project
$390,000 for purchase of a Sander vehicle replacement
$200,000 for the design and engineering of the Lake Tahoe Boulevard Bike Trail

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency announced the project awards for the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program.

The purpose of the CMAQ Program is to fund transportation projects or programs that will contribute to attainment or maintenance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. All projects and programs eligible for CMAQ funds must come from a conforming regional transportation plan and a Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP). Funds are distributed from the federal level to the State (Caltrans), then on to the MPO’s for project allocation.

The City thanked the staff at the TMPO for their hard work in securing increased funds for the Lake Tahoe Basin for purposes of Air Quality enhancement.

"Without the hard work of the TMPO, the projects identified above would not be moving forward," according to the City's press release.

“Through our team’s hard work we are receiving $3 million in CMAQ funds to further alternative transportation projects and critical vehicle replacements that will attain clean air status," said Jim Marino, City of South Lake Tahoe Assistant Director, Department of Public Works. "This is a big win for South Lake Tahoe. We truly want to thank the TMPO for their support.”