By Kathryn Reed

The $1.1 billion settlement to bring sidewalks along state highways in California will have no affect on the dilapidated or nonexistent walkways in Lake Tahoe.

“All of our new projects are compliant. The suit had to do with older facilities,” Caltrans spokesman Mark Dinger told Lake Tahoe News.

South Lake Tahoe is not a pedestrian-friendly town. Photo/Kathryn Reed

This means the projects on the books for Tahoe already have sidewalks included in them to meet Americans with Disabilities Act criteria. None will be retrofitted because of the settelment, Dinger said.

In 2010, Highway 50 between Trout Creek and Ski Run Boulevard is slated to be upgraded. But when the rest of South Lake Tahoe will have sidewalks or other parts of the basin will get them remains a mystery.

Throughout many towns in California state highways are the main thoroughfares. Caltrans maintains 2,500 miles of sidewalks on state highways, which includes overpasses and underpasses.

Two disabled people filed the lawsuit in federal court in 2006. The settlement with Caltrans was reached this month. A federal judge will review the settlement in January, with final approval expected at an April hearing.

South Lake Tahoe officials were unaware of the settlement when reached for comment last week.