Tahoe putting emphasis on regional transit
By Kathryn Reed
Lake Tahoe is making strides to have a coordinated regional transit system. A significant step is this week there will be a job posting by Tahoe Transportation District for a transit system program manager.
“We need to answer: ‘What does an integrated transit system in the entire Tahoe area look like?’,” Carl Hasty, TTD executive director, told Lake Tahoe News.
As TTD goes forward with developing the environmental documents for ferry service on the lake between the North and South shores, it must explain how the basin could have coordinated service. This is because if ferry passengers are left at the terminus without public transit, the boat will be a failure.
As it is now, the bus companies operating at the lake are not integrated.
Improvements are already happening on Highway 28, like the roundabout at the base of Mount Rose Highway. Photo/LTN
The person who is hired will be tasked with coming up with a plan that links current systems and anticipates for future growth.
One thing planners are looking at is how the 6.5 million people who are in the Bay Area/Sacramento market could come to Tahoe. How will they get here? And how will they get around when they are here? And with the forecast calling for that number to grow by 4 million more in the next few decades, it could be gridlock in the basin if everyone is in a private vehicle.
That is why local transit officials are also looking at transit along Highway 50 to Sacramento, Interstate 80 to Sac and Highway 395 in Carson City-Reno and then the routes to Tahoe.
“The system needs to be attractive to riders who don’t typically ride,” Hasty said.
What that looks like still needs to be worked out.
While TTD is and will continue to do its own studies, it will also tap into other resources. One of those is the travel survey the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency did Aug. 15-24.The survey conducted by NuStats Research Solutions was intended primarily to gather data on travel patterns involving commercial and recreation areas.
TTD is not letting the lack of a coordinated transit manager slow down its progress in making the region more transit friendly.
Instead of going on a project-by-project basis, the new thinking is to look at the entire transit corridor. This was and is still being done along Highway 28 from Spooner to Incline Village. Fourteen stakeholders are involved.
BlueGo helps eliminate the need for a vehicle on the South Shore. Photo/LTN file
The roundabout at Highway 28 and the Mount Rose Highway is one component, as is the East Shore Express bus that operates in the summer.
Now those stakeholders – which include public land owners, NDOT, IVGID and others – are working on a state highway erosion control project that will include highway parking lots. A park and ride at Spooner is being considered, as well as a different location for the aquatic invasive species decontamination operation. It’s possible fire hydrants will be installed along Highway 28.
Incline Village General Improvement District needs to move its sewage export line that sits in the highway. That line would be moved into the forest where 11 miles of bike trail are proposed. If the trail goes where the line is, then IVGID would be responsible for the maintenance of it.
The economies of scale approach to planning means total implementation costs less, maintenance could be less and more gets done. Ideally, it’s mostly for the public benefit.
Hasty said a coordinated synergy exists today that hasn’t been there in the past that is allowing for this cooperative approach to take place.
The corridor approach will be used whenever possible and practical, he said. The Y section of South Lake Tahoe from about Trout Creek to Emerald Bay has been plotted as a corridor, as has Trout Creek to Zephyr Cove.
A master transportation plan for the region is a must. Piecemeal solutions will fail to address visitor modes of transportation Glad that it is the direction TDD is going.
TTD needs to forget about how visitors get here and concentrate on moving people around once already here.
A coordinated transit system is a great idea, a no-brainer. If having reliable public transportation here can earn a good reputation, it will be remembered and used by a great many more visitors and locals than today. Yosemite Park’s shuttle system is a prime example.
The Sand Harbor Shuttle (now named East Shore Express) appears to be successful..well done, TTD!
Be interesting to see how Emerald Bay road closures during the winter will effect the integration.
sounds great I just bought a new car to drive all around Lake Tahoe
there is no local who is going to get out of their car to ride the Shame Train
Many travelers will still need their vehicles to get in and out of the basin, but once they get their stuff in place, they should have a convenient, attractive, comfortable, affordable way to reach the places they want to go within the basin. It will have to be highly visible and easy to use, with very frequent trips.
TDD should take their cue from San Francisco’s Muni system, where buses and trolleys typically run about 5 to 15 minutes apart, and transit maps are available all over the place. To me, seeing a public transit option while stuck in Camp Rich/Valhalla traffic is a great motivator to use the trolley for trips when I don’t need my car. I’d much rather let someone else deal with pedestrians and tourist-driven autos while I relax and read or gaze at the trees.
It could pay off to advertise the advantages of leaving one’s small watercraft at home and renting locally — no transporting and no invasive species concerns.
Ferry service: 2,000 gallons of gas per day. Costs include at least 3 boats, so if one needs repair/maintenance there is a backup. Major dredging on Lake Tahoe, more parking structures, huge piers, and on and on. Forget the ferry – it’s too expensive and the pollution is far worse than if passengers just drove. We also can’t ignore drought and low lake levels.
Yes, let’s focus on better regional transit, more frequency, more convenience, etc., instead of costly ventures that commuters are unlikely to afford and waste our federal tax dollars on what will more likely be recreational rides across the Lake. Transit money is tight – why is Vail not contributing more towards local public transit, as resort corporations do elsewhere? What about Edgewood?
And let’s give some thought to all of the current TRPA and Placer County proposals to increase Tourist Units in the Basin because that will mean MORE CARS.
“One thing planners are looking at is how the 6.5 million people who are in the Bay Area/Sacramento market could come to Tahoe”
Just what we need – another agency looking at how to get more masses of people to Tahoe – so they can cause even more congestion, pollution and shop at all the T-shirt shops …………
Agree with Ed.
The water taxi idea is a joke. A tax payer funded tourist attraction.
You won’t get people out of their cars so focus on improving the roads. Not on sill water taxis and computerized tracking of busses that no one rides. Bluego is a joke.
Ed said it well…the TTD should be dismantled and restructured with all residents considered. Obviously money rules and not ” actual need “.. I’ll say it again… Do we all realize that one can take a public bus from ” the y” to Carson city or Gardnerville several times a day but cannot take a public bus to meyers even once!!! WTF!?