First peek into Sierra Boulevard Complete Streets Project

The City of South Lake Tahoe is creating a new design of Sierra Boulevard that will introduce Class 1 and Class 2 bike lanes, parallel parking spots, reduced lane size and lighted sidewalks. Called the Sierra Boulevard Complete Streets Project, work is expected to get underway on the .6 mile stretch of road in the summer of 2018, but not everyone is happy about it.

At the first of two community information meetings on Thursday night, City and NCE representatives gave an overview of the planned project, had a question and answer period and shared preliminary designs of Sierra Blvd.

NCE is a consulting engineering, planning and environmental firm with offices in Reno and Stateline. They have been hired by the City to draw up the plans for the project, and part of the process includes public outreach.

Those attending Thursday's meeting were asked to submit questions in writing so they can be recorded as part of the upcoming CEQA ()California Environmental Quality Act) requirements to identify significant environmental impacts of actions.

The new Sierra Boulevard will include Class 1 and 2 mixed used trails, sidewalks, driveway connections, curbs, gutters, drainage system, stormwater infiltration and stormwater treatment. On-street parallel parking spots and landscaping are also planned.

About 50 people attended the meeting at Sierra Community Church. Church Pastor Dan Wilvers said he is concerned about what the new road will do to his congregation as their normal Sunday routine of parking on the boulevard will be eliminated. He said 64 cars parked on Sierra Blvd last Sunday, but preliminary plans don't allow anywhere near that much, and with almost 1,000 people part of the church parking has always been an issue.

Several in the audience said they can't wait for the project's new bike lanes and mixed use trail as it will connect the new South Tahoe Greenway which will provide bicyclists and walkers Class 1 trails from Stateline to the state beaches to Meyers. They are looking forward to the added safety benefits of wider bike lanes, lighting, less parking into the roadway and slower vehicles.

"This is an excellent amenity to our community," local bike advocate Pete Fink said during the meeting.

Another benefit of the revamped street will be the resulting traffic calming aspect with its reduced width. Drivers won't feel comfortable if they try and go above the speed limit as their wide-open view of the current road will be eliminated.

Besides parking, those concerned with the new road project also spoke about concerns with snow removal, as snow is commonly piled on the sides of the road, making it hard for residents to get out of streets and driveways.

The plans unveiled Thursday are only "30 percent plans," according to Christian Heinbaugh, NCE project manager. They will take comments from the public and put into a 60 percent plan prior to their next public meeting.

Heinbaugh said they are looking into solutions for parking for not only the church, but residents along Sierra Boulevard which include many multi-unit complexes.

The north end of Sierra will connect into the new Highway 50 project which should be completed to that area in 2018. There will be two left-turn lanes added and relocation of the crosswalk to the east side of the intersection.

Heinbaugh told South Tahoe Now that they are working with South Tahoe Public Utility District, Southwest Gas, Liberty Utilities to make sure they time all projects to coincide with the City's tearing up the boulevard. Digging once and an agency not having to cut into a new road is the new focus of all projects in South Lake Tahoe. We also suggested they use this project to put down conduit for future broadband efforts in the community.

For those not attending the meeting but want their comments recorded, email Stan Hill, an engineer with the City and project manager. He can be contacted at shill@cityofslt.us.