$1.6M band-aid given to TTD for South Lake Tahoe bus service

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) has given Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) $1.6M to help continue bus service from Carson City to the Carson Valley and on to Lake Tahoe, but more is still needed to help TTD continue service both at the lake and in the valley.

This month's TTD board meeting was set to be the day they would decide on which bus routes were going to survive budget cuts and be on a path to being a transportation system that was more sustainable. But, with the one-time funding from NDOT, it became a discussion on not how things will change, but what changes will be made within a year. The funding gave TTD a year to come up with a better plan for transit.

"This is not a position we want to be in," said Carl Hasty, District Manager of TTD on changes. "There is going to be some pain."

The bus route that links Carson City and the Carson Valley, 19x, filled a void when TTD had to cut the 21x route that carried people directly from Carson City to South Lake Tahoe. Now with the NDOT funding, that route is safe, but a sustainable plan needs to be completed.

Many South Shore patients used the 21x bus to get to dialysis appointments, something they cannot get in South Lake Tahoe. They can now use the 20x over Kingsbury Grade that connects to the 19x, but with that route in future funding jeopardy, riders are asking TTD to find a way to keep it.

Fares collected on buses is eight percent of the cost of supplying the service, but fare increases aren't always the answer as many riders wouldn't be able to afford to service. Collected fares must be used for community public transit services and demand response paratransit services.

Under ten percent fare recovery is normal in the country. But, by 2022, fare box revenue must increase due to a California state law. They need to increase it to 15 percent by then to receive TDA funds (Transportation Development Act).

"The current transit model is unsustainable," said George Fink, Transit System Program Manager for TTD at the meeting.

This isn't the first time NDOT has come up with large chunks of funding for TTD. In 2014 they had rural transportation funds to use and gave them to Tahoe Transportation District for Nevada routes and services. California communities at the lake contribute about $3M annually through a portion of sales taxes collected. Lake Tahoe Community College and The Ridge Tahoe also support the transit service with funding.

The region was listed in Washington, D.C. as a rural area, but with the number of visitors that come to Lake Tahoe annually TTD was able to get it switched to an urban, thus being able to get more funding opportunities.

Now they need to connect the visitor to riding the bus, something multiple agencies in Lake Tahoe are working on.

The Board both received public and written comment on the proposed changes to service. With the help from NDOT, TTD has extended the public comment period until their next meeting on August 10.

They are looking at adding routes to Meyers and using Lake Tahoe Community College as a mid-town hub. There are new electric buses coming and they'll need the charging station LTCC is installing in their transit center. How routes in South Lake Tahoe will be changed due to this added stop have not been decided.

Vail Resorts contributes $358K annually to have the TTD fleet take skiers up the Heavenly for free. The service costs $1.8M to provide and the rest of the transit system cannot make up for the different.

Andrew Strain, a board member and Vice President of Planning &. Governmental Affairs for Heavenly and Northstar, was recused from the discussion as a board member, but moved to the audience to speak for Vail. He said he supports extending bus service to skiers and the community and that Vail wants to continue being a partner. The resort (Heavenly) has supplied some busses and are working to add back cut services.

On an average, 20 vehicles are down daily, leaving 14 vehicles in service. One bus costs TTD about $400k, an electric bus $900k. They don't have funds for any more new buses and finding mechanics to fix them, as well as parts, is an issue for the agency.

TTD says they cannot attract employees due to a lack of housing, as is the case with many other local businesses. They said they are looking at bringing bus driver training classes to the community.

Possible changes on the horizon include adding services to Meyers, cutting back free winter shuttles and shortening service hours. Staff will be working on plans, solutions and discuss options with Vail and the Ridge.

TTD knows they cannot solve the transit problems in the Lake Tahoe Basin by themselves but do know that the local residential base cannot support a transit system.

To have a transit system that solves all issues would have a price tag of about $1B over ten years.

The plans and options to comment can be found here: http://www.tahoetransportation.org/transit.

Comments can be sent by August 10 to planning@tahoetransportation.org via email, or by mail to:
Tahoe Transportation District
Attn: Transit Public Comments
P.O. Box 499
Zephyr Cove, NV 89448