Deadline looming for Sierra Boulevard Complete Streets Project

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Sierra Boulevard Complete Streets project was slated to begin as soon as the 2018 building season began, but some bureaucratic red tape has delayed it. The .6 mile stretch of road will receive Class 1 and Class 2 bike lanes, parallel parking spots, reduced lane size, lighted sidewalks, underground utilities, landscaping, crosswalks and water quality improvements.

Federal and state transportation grants will fund the entire project.

The CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) on the project was approved by City Council last week, and now the NEPA needs to be approved by June 15 for the City to be able to use a $2.9M grant that comes from state transportation funds issued through the federal government.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is that next step, but Caltrans needs to work with the City on studies involved with satisfying those requirements, and they have yet to comply.

Caltrans has required steps to follow, and the federal government has their own sets of rules the City has to complete, but all is waiting on California now, according to Project Manager Stan Hill, the City's Associate Engineer.

Time is running out and all has to be approved by that June 15 deadline in order to get the funds. Once that happens the project can go out for bid.

"We won't have a project if we loose funding," said Hill.

Besides funding, one issue of the project that some residents in the neighborhood have is where the planned staging area is. Resident Judi Allen said that closing Barbara Avenue from Lodi to Sierra Boulevard for equipment and supply storage will divert drivers onto Fountain Avenue and other streets, making them more dangerous.

"Find something that works for the neighborhood that satisfies their concerns,” said Councilman Tom Davis during last Tuesday's meeting.

Hill said he an Public Works Director Ray Jarvis have been looking at alternative locations for the staging, but nothing has worked out yet. One idea was for use of the Caltrans snow storage area, but there has been no response from Caltrans. Another idea is at the former staging area on Highway 50 behind Whiskey Dick's. That would send slow trucks onto Highway 50 or through the neighborhoods for over a mile so that may not be the best choice, and it affects more people.

"We want to avoid cut-throughs in neighborhoods, but we are sensitive to Judi's concerns," said Hill.

If all studies and approvals are complete by June 15, the very earliest crews could start on the project is August if all permits in order. This building season will be strictly underground work, something the City will team up with South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) on. They need some water line work, so will do when the City digs and pay for their portion. Last year, STPUD did some underground work and the City used that dig for some of their work and compensated them.