Greenway shared use trail in South Lake Tahoe gets approval

Even though construction won't start until 2019, a major step forward to the completion of the South Tahoe Greenway Shared-Use Trail Project occurred Thursday when the California Tahoe Conservancy approved the updated project and authorized an additional $200,000 in funding.

The 3.86 mile trail will run from Tahoe Sierra (formerly known as Sierra Tract) to Van Sickle Bi-State Park. For the most part, the trail follows the right-of-way CalTrans obtained to build a bypass freeway. Phase 1a of the project through the Bijou neighborhood was completed last summer.

The CTC Board has originally approved the trail, but after staff reviewed and worked with partnering agencies, there were modifications that realigned the trail over Trout Creek from Barbara Avenue to Lake Tahoe Community College.

To accomplish the trail over Trout Creek, instead of along Martin Avenue and Black Bart Avenue, there will be some land swaps involving the college, the City and the Conservancy. The college will gain some land since they are giving the project $700,000 and can't approve the expenditure unless they own the property. A total of 79 acres will be swapped between the three.

Also changed was the previously planned boardwalk through the Bijou Meadow. It will now be asphalt on the permeable bill. A boardwalk could be used, along with signage along the route, on the trail over Trout Creek. Plans to make the trails usable in winter are also being made, with the City taking responsibility for snow removal and maintenance with Measure R funds.

The timeline for the project:

April, 2016 - City and TRPA approve the project modifications as well
April, 2016 - Sign grant agreements, also in April
December, 2016 - Complete all preliminary planning tasks
February, 2017 - PWA/Caltrans approval to proceed to working drawings
June, 2018 - Complete final design
October, 2018 - Receive authority to bid
April, 2019 - Award construction contract
August, 2019 - Start Project
October, 2020 - Complete Project

Since 2002, the Conservancy has spent $2,140,500 on a feasibility analysis, preliminary planning and design, initial permits, environmental review and for construction of Phase 1a. The portion approved Thursday, Phase 1b and 2 will cost an additional $4,327,000, most of what will come from other fund allocations and grants.