This workshop addressed the role of transportation in supporting the Tahoe Basin's most important industries—tourism, gaming and recreation--while reducing its effects on the environment. Tahoe's business community is in substantial agreement with its environmental organizations regarding desired transportation solutions. The biggest challenge facing implementation is funding from state, local and federal sources. To this end, local workshop participants indicated support for locally-controlled funding sources.
Access to the Basin. Basin access is critical to the health of the tourism industry. Because access relies almost entirely on the automobile, the states of California and Nevada must invest substantially to maintain road access during snows, floods, storms and earthquakes. To introduce additional transportation modes and technologies will require planning, public outreach and education.
Reducing Automobile Dependency. The substantial population growth in the urban areas surrounding Lake Tahoe, together with the increased interest in recreation, has led to a large increase in the number of day visitors and a concurrent increase in traffic congestion. Relative to overnight visitors, these day users provide about one-fourth the economic impact. Public and private transit fleets are beginning to be merged in South Lake Tahoe and participants support extending the concept throughout the basin. Parking management is another tool for cutting congestion and pollution.
Bicycle, Pedestrian and Recreational Transportation. The surge in tourism has put pressure on the Forest Service's trail system, which is well suited for hiking but lacks sufficient biking trails. Pedestrians also face impediments, as Tahoe's major commercial centers have been designed almost entirely for the automobile. Participants called for the removal of institutional barriers that prevent roadway improvements from incorporating better bike paths and sidewalks. Strong support was expressed for expanding existing bike networks. Existing sidewalks should be significantly improved to increase pedestrian safety and access to parking and transit.
Environmental Effects of Transportation. Improvements in auto emissions technology have sharply reduced levels of many primary pollutants. Visibility, however, is reduced by haze from fine particle emissions, half of which are generated from outside the basin in the summer. To protect water quality, erosion and pollution control systems along the Lake Tahoe highway system must be replaced and maintained. Widespread use of alternative fuel vehicles faces technological challenges caused by the high altitude and cold climate of the Tahoe Basin.
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Last updated: August 12, 1997