Fanny Bridge project earns TRPA approval

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board on Wednesday unanimously approved the Tahoe Transportation District’s State Route 89/Fanny Bridge Community Revitalization Project to realign State Route 89 through Tahoe City.

The project realigns State Route 89 to route through traffic over roundabouts and a new two-lane bridge across the Truckee River to reduce transportation conflicts among drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians at the congested pinch point at the Tahoe City “Wye.”

The project creates an additional emergency egress and ingress route for first responders and residents and addresses structural and safety issues for the 87-year-old Fanny Bridge. The old highway alignment will be upgraded for local traffic, bicyclists and pedestrians, supporting community revitalization and transformation of the old alignment and Fanny Bridge area into a recreation- and activity-friendly river district for locals and visitors.

“The Fanny Bridge project for Tahoe City is a major step forward in carrying out the Regional Plan’s goal to make our communities at Lake Tahoe more walkable and bikeable while supporting community revitalization,” said Joanne S. Marchetta, Executive Director of TRPA. “This collaborative project also shows how agencies at Lake Tahoe are stepping up, working together and cooperating to achieve collective success.”

The Tahoe Transportation District Board of Directors and Placer County Board of Supervisors have already certified the environmental review and approved the preferred alternative for the estimated $30 million project. With TRPA’s approval, the Tahoe Transportation District is cleared to move forward with final project design as soon as the Federal Highway Administration signs a finding of no significant impact.

The goal is to complete project design by October 2015 and complete construction in 2016, 2017, and 2018. “There will be many additional opportunities for public comment and input on important aspects of the project, including aesthetics, design elements, and construction,” said Carl Hasty, Executive Director of the Tahoe Transportation District. “This is the culmination of a coordinated outreach and engineering effort by our partners and affiliated agencies. The community has arrived at a valuable project that promotes safety, economic vitality, and the environment while maintaining the unique character of Tahoe City.”

Project participants include Tahoe Transportation District, TRPA, Federal Highway Administration Central Federal Lands Highway Division, Caltrans, Placer County, Tahoe City Public Utility District, Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, California State Parks, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency.

For additional information about the project, visit www.FannyBridge.org or email suggestions@fannybridge.org.