Sand Harbor bus shuttle will return for second summer

By AP

INCLINE VILLAGE — The new shuttle bus system at Lake Tahoe’s Sand Harbor State Park has been declared a success and is coming back again next summer, albeit with a possible tweak or two to better target peak demand.

Ridership totaled 12,155 on the East Shore Express during 81 days of operation between the park and nearby Incline Village, the Tahoe Transportation District said.

Daily ridership averaged 150 for the season, from June 15 through Labor Day weekend. June was the slowest, with big spikes later for weekends and holidays – the biggest on July 3 with 1,430 riders.

Running daily in 20-minute intervals from 9am to 6pm, the shuttle is part of an effort to help slow erosion around the lake, ease congestion and improve safety along Highway 28.

The roundtrip tickets including park entry fee cost $3 for adults, $1.50 for children.

Jay Howard, park supervisor of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, which includes Sand Harbor, said the shuttle has “vastly” improved safety on the highway, especially for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Along with the new shuttle service came a prohibition on summer walk-up visitors, a move designed to keep pedestrian flow off the roadway hugging the lake’s shore.