TTD board awards initial phase of bikeway construction

By Anne Knowles

The Tahoe Transportation District Board of Directors awarded the first phase of construction on the Stateline- to- Stateline Bikeway Project to Herback General Engineering after dismissing a protest to the award.

During a special meeting held Friday, the board approved the contract after determining that Herback, the lowest of five bidders with a bid of $1,498,835, had fully met the requirements of the project.

A&K Earth Movers Inc., the second lowest bidder, filed a complaint based on Herback’s lack of any disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) participation. Contractors on public projects are required by law to utilize a small percentage of subcontractors or suppliers classified as DBEs, a for-profit small business concern that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged.

“It was well documented that Herback made a ‘good faith’ effort,” to find DBEs for its bid, said Carl Hasty, district manager, TTD.

Construction on the first phase, from Kahle Drive to Elks Point Road, should begin this summer, said Hasty.

The board also voted to amend the South Lake Tahoe Short-Range Transit Plan to include upgrades to a fueling station and computer hardware and software. The new fueling station will be located closer to the service yard and add biodiesel fuel.

The board’s approval was needed to secure $778,306 in Proposition 1B funds from the state.

The board also received an update on the first week of operations for the East Shore Express service of the BlueGo bus system. The service carried 291 passengers in its first week, from June 15-21, with more than half, or 186, on the Sunday of that week. Sixty eight of the riders were either reduced fare, for children aged 5 to 12 or adults over 60, or free, for kids younger than 5.