Over $550,000 Awarded by TRPA to Lake Tahoe Organizations

"On Our Way" grants totaling over $550,000 were awarded this week by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). Six projects that aim at sustainability and improved mobility options around Lake Tahoe will now be able to move forward due to the grants.

Lake Tahoe Unified School District was awarded $153,625 for the South Tahoe Middle School Connectivity Plan. The grant will be used to study, design and environmental review of shared-use connectivity options to the existing bike and pedestrian facilities in and around the South Tahoe Middle School. Provide off-highway opportunities for students to safely access school facilities and nearby recreation destinations.

El Dorado County gets $200,000 for the Meyers Sustainable Mobility Plan Project. Funds will go towards a conceptual multi-model transportation

planning strategy for the U.S. Highway 50/State Route 89 corridor through Meyers, with a focus on bicycle and pedestrian alternatives, streetscape
and water quality improvements.

The Tahoe Rim Trail Association received $25,744 for connecting the Rim Trail users to transportation alternatives. This project aims to increase the number of trail users accessing Tahoe trailheads via public
transportation and other transportation alternatives and reduce vehicle miles traveled within the Tahoe Basin.

Placer County Public Works Department received $73,469 for Tahoe City improvements. The money will help visualize and design for future connectivity and advance solutions for community cohesion in downtown Tahoe City. Includes identifying pedestrian improvements along SR 28 in
downtown Tahoe City to connect the regional trail corridor to community businesses and destinations and to connect people to the Lake.

Two projects get funding in Washoe County, with $53,000 going to their Signage Master Plan for SR 28 National Scenic Corridor & NV Stateline to Stateline Shared Use Path. They will develop a hierarchy of signs with a consistent look, theme, and messaging for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians along the State Route 28 National Scenic Corridor and the Stateline to Stateline Shared-Use Path. $46,733 goes to SR 431 Mt. Rose Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan (Lake Tahoe Portion). They are D=developing of a Corridor Management Plan for State Route 431 Mount Rose Scenic Byway that addresses roadway safety, economic development, tourism, multi-model transportation options, and historic and natural resource
preservation.

The On Our Way Community Grant Program is a new program that will help community organizations and local governments identify transportation and other improvements that improve walking and biking, create safer streets, and support economic vitality. Applicants were invited in March of this year to apply for funding to create project plans or programs that advance regional sustainability goals, according to TRPA/TMPO Transportation Planning Manager Nick Haven.

“The projects that came forward this year are perfect examples of how we can tie together air quality and community well-being to achieve the goals of sustainability,” Haven said. “These grants will help support the Regional Plan and Regional Transportation Plan by advancing projects that improve mobility and connectivity, and provide residents and visitors transportation choices for getting to the places they need to go.”