Meyers traffic plan has some success after first weekend

If you drive through Meyers on a Sunday you've most likely come across gridlock traffic through the neighborhoods as vehicles trying to head west after their South Lake Tahoe weekend look for the quickest route, courtesy of smart phone apps.

El Dorado County Supervisor Sue Novasel held a Town Hall meeting on February 28, providing a forum for residents, law enforcement and staff to discuss solutions. One suggestion that came out of that meeting was put into place on Sunday, March 4 and was fairly successful.

What is called a "nudging" traffic measure was tried at the intersection of Lake Tahoe Boulevard and Sawmill Road at the suggestion of the County's new Director of Transportation Rafael Martinez. He recently relocated from Southern California and found nudging to be popular.

Signs were placed on Lake Tahoe Blvd, directing non-local traffic to make a left onto Sawmill Road instead of heading straight to North Upper Truckee.

There was about a 50 percent compliance Sunday, but enough for residents in the area to notice a different. Martinez said these maneuvers usually have closer to a 60 percent compliance rate. This is a pilot program that will stay in place program throughout the year during high-traffic times. If successful, the pilot project may be applied to other impacted areas

Another idea that may be implemented is a left turn only when vehicles come out of North Upper Truckee. Most turn right onto Highway 50. Law enforcement was concerned that drivers would make the left, then attempt an illegal u-turn to go back in the right direction.

About 70 residents from the South Lake Tahoe-Meyers area attended the meeting, including County Counsel, the County Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Martinez, several DOT engineers and representatives from the Sheriff’s office. Also in attendance were California Highway Patrol (CHP), Lake Valley Fire Department, Lake Tahoe Unified School District Board President Barbara Bannar and the City of South Lake Tahoe, including Mayor Wendy David.

Novasel and her team went over the steps they've taken so far in addressing the gridlock with other agencies. As an arm of the State and regulated by certain rules and ordinances, the attendees discusses that they can and cannot do relative to road closures and other issues. CAO Don Ashton recapped the meetings he has held with similar jurisdictions and his work on the California and Nevada Bi-State Consultation on Transportation group, which has addressed a coordinated approach to transportation options in and out of the Tahoe Basin.

Other suggestions from the public:

1. Post signage referencing steep and winding roads
2. Reduce number of VHRs in impacted neighborhoods
3. Close/reroute traffic to Sawmill Rd & HWY 50
4. Create a taskforce to address issues, taking experiences from other tourist towns
5. Change “traction control” to “chains required”
6. Provide a chain-up area on Lake Tahoe Blvd. and/or at the airport
7. Increase law enforcement presence in impacted neighborhoods
8. Install portable speedometers in impacted neighborhoods
9. Install speed humps in impacted neighborhoods
10. Designate a “Locals Only” lane
11. Work with hotels/ski resorts incentivize, institute & promote flexible checkout/night skiing
12. Institute an odd-even license plate travel plan
13. Institute counterflow pattern out of the basin on busy days
14. Ban sledding along the highway/roadways and have CHP enforce the ban
15. Work with mobile app designers to remove illegal routing around Ag Station
17. Prevent right turns onto HWY 50 from North Upper Truckee at certain times and days
18. Add a Citizen Patrol component in impacted neighborhoods

County Counsel informed the audience that closing traffic to “locals only” or only allowing a particular group of drivers is illegal and was upheld by the California Supreme Court. Other jurisdictions that have tried to institute those restrictions have been sued and lost in court.

“Traction Control” signs were placed on local streets this past fall due to the desire to keep motorists without chains or snow tires from driving down neighboring streets. To place “Chains Required” signage on streets requires a roadway with ample area for chain-up and changeable signage, which is not feasible on most county roads.

"We will reconvene a similar meeting this spring to share the progress made on these and other suggestions in hopes of finding more permanent solutions to the growing problem of congestion in the Basin," said Novasel.

In the meantime, the pilot program will be in effect as will further discussions between CHP and the County.