More money possible for Greenway bike trail

California Tahoe Conservancy is partnering with the Tahoe Transportation District to apply for a grant that would help fund the South Tahoe Greenway bike trail.

Caltrans has consolidated state and federal non-motorized funding sources to create the Active Transportation Program.

If the grant is secured, it would be spent on the final design and construction of phases 1 and 2 of the Greenway, extend the West Shore Bike Trail from Sugar Pine to Meeks Bay, and realign that same trail to accommodate the changes to Highway 89 as it is reconstructed around Fanny Bridge in Tahoe City. The two entities are seeking $10 million. Only the Greenway is a CTC project.

Phase 1A of the Greenway is to break ground in 2015. It will be a shared use trail between Herbert Avenue and edge of Bijou Meadow at Glenwood Way. This section has the money to go forward.

The grant would allow for building the trail that connects to Lake Tahoe Community College as well as to Van Sickle Bi-State Park.

Sue Rae Irelan with the Conservancy presented the proposal to the CTC board last week. The board agreed to go forward with the grant application and to finalize rights-of-way agreements.

This trail that one day will link Meyers to Stateline follows the old Caltrans right-of-way that the Conservancy acquired in 2000.

It’s possible maintenance of the trail will be provided by money coming from Measure R, the recreation measure California property owners on the South Shore fund.

— Kathryn Reed