transportation

Nevadans looking for information on road construction improvements and projects have a new resource through the Nevada Department of Transportation’s electronic Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP.

8:00 a.m. update 10/12/15: Authorities spent Sunday removing parts of the plane that remained in trees surrounding the crash site that claimed the lives of two people in South Lake Tahoe.

Investigators say the plane hit trees before crashing behind a home on Tionontati Street just before 5:36 p.m. Saturday, October 10. A fire started which scorched the home.

The force of the crash broke a large tree just feet away from the house.

Millions of dollars could be headed to the South Shore if the Douglas County Commissioners vote to increase gas tax by five cents and add an additional 0.25% infrastructure sales tax.

The Countywide Connectivity initiative looks at several projects both at the lake and in the valley that would address safety issues for walkers, cyclists and drivers while creating vibrate business districts that attract investment.

The popular "Tahoe Talks Brown Bag Lunch Series" will feature a panel discussion on transit options to trailheads, and how they can be improved upon.

This panel will discuss barriers to improving transit to trailheads and other dispersed recreation areas, new plans in the works, the role of technology in improving transit, and how different groups can work together to improve transit.

Speakers:

Mary Bennington, Executive Director, Tahoe Rim Trail

Carl Hasty, District Manager, Tahoe Transportation District

The newest multi-use trail connecting Lake Tahoe Blvd and Highway 50 will officially open with a dedication ceremony at 3 p.m. on October 14.

District Five County Supervisor Sue Novasel, the communities of South Lake Tahoe and Meyers and the Transportation Division of the County of El Dorado's Community Development Agency invite all interested parties to a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the final connection of the Class 1 bicycle and multi-use path network connecting the communities of Meyers and South Lake Tahoe.

A Nevada Department of Transportation project to repave and enhance Kingsbury Grade last year has received a Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Best in the Basin Award.

The project substantially completed ahead of schedule in 2014, and was recognized as a water quality and erosion control improvement that helped enhance the Lake Tahoe environment.

Ten million dollars of Nevada state highway funds will be spent on pedestrian enhancements in the Las Vegas, Reno and Lake Tahoe areas over the next year.

The first $300,000 will be spent on a Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) project that began Tuesday that is relocating a crosswalk and adding safety signs on Highway 28 in the Incline Village.

El Dorado County's Transportation Division has announced upcoming partial and full road closures for Black Bart Avenue, Barbara Avenue and Martin Avenue in order to complete an overlay project starting September 21, 2015.

Black Bart and Martin Avenues are scheduled for directional closures September 21, 22 and 24 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. During these directional closures, motorists will only be allowed to drive in the direction from Pioneer Trail to U.S. 50.

Are you, or someone you know, in need of emergency food supplies? The Food Bank of El Dorado County in partnership with California Emergency Food Link will be in South Lake Tahoe to host a Mobile Food Pantry Distribution on Wednesday, August 26, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. to bring food to those who need it most.

Lawmakers from Nevada and California met Monday on the shores of Lake Tahoe to discuss how to protect a national treasure as it faces continued threats to water clarity, invasive species, wildfire and drought.

Ever since President Bill Clinton held the first meeting in South Lake Tahoe in 1997, the annual focus of the Lake Tahoe Summit is to protect what Mark Twain called "the fairest picture the whole world affords."

Motorists traveling along Highway 89 on the west shore this weekend can expect delays during the Lake Tahoe Triathlon.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) said the highway will not close during events but CHP officers will be conducting traffic control at several locations along the courses, including several turnaround spots for the cyclists. Work on Caltrans’ construction projects in the area will be wrapped up by Friday at 10 a.m. and won’t resume until Sunday night.

A shuttle and bike valet will be available for the large crowd expected to attend the 19th annual Lake Tahoe Summit on Monday, August 24 at the Round Hill Pines Beach Resort in Zephyr Cove.

This year, U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-Nevada) is hosting the free event.

The theme of this year’s Lake Tahoe Summit is “Connecting Lake Tahoe’s Environment and Economy through Innovation and Transportation.” The keynote speaker is Chris Bently, Chief Executive Officer of Bently Enterprises.

The Tahoe Transportation District recently appointed Russ Nygaard as transportation capital program manager to oversee the planning, design and execution of the agency's capital projects.

With 26 years engineering experience in transportation and bridge projects, Nygaard will perform project management duties and assist with funding procurement and budget maintenance while ensuring all federal requirements are met and executed on schedule.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

8/2

8:26 a.m. - Possession of Marijuana for Sale - Third Street - 24-YEAR-OLD MALE SUBJECT ARRESTED FOR TRANSPORTATION AND POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA FOR SALES.

When CalTrans unveiled the three new message board signs in South Lake Tahoe before the 4th of July weekend, many were appreciative of the head's up on travel times over Echo Summit.

Nevada Senator Dean Heller is hosting the 19th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit on Monday, August 24 at Round Hill Pines Resort from 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The them of this year's meeting of the community, political partners and government agencies will be "Connecting Lake Tahoe's Environment and Economy through Innovation and Transportation."

Nighttime lane closures will be in place over the coming week on South Carson Street and U.S. 50 near Spooner junction for the Nevada Department of Transportation’s Carson City Freeway project.

Lane closures and reduced speed limits will be in place on both South Carson Street and U.S. 50 in the Spooner junction area beginning Sunday, June 19 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. The closures are anticipated to last for approximately one week.

The Nevada Department of Transportation will reduce State Route 28 eastbound entering the Incline Village Gateway Roundabout from two to one lane in an effort to further enhance traffic safety.

An El Dorado County Sheriff (EDSO) Deputy out on patrol in South Lake Tahoe on Friday, July 3 witnessed a man jaywalking across Highway 50 near the intersection of Third and Fourth Streets.

Since the man, 57-year-old Michael Harry Horny, appeared to be under the influence, the deputy followed him into Burrito Brothers where Horny headed to the restroom and stayed for a long period of time. Concerned Horny perhaps had passed out, or was ill, the deputy knocked on the door. Horny and local law enforcement have had a lot of contact over the past several years and he was known to the deputy.

The California Tahoe Conservancy announced today that construction of the first phase of the South Tahoe Greenway Shared Use Trail will begin on Monday, July 6, 2015. The new bike and pedestrian trail extends about a half of a mile between Herbert Avenue and Glenwood Way and is scheduled to be completed by August.

Join community members on Wednesday, June 24 at the next 'Tahoe Talks' session when the topic will be "Law Enforcement Strategies to Improve Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety."

Someone from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department will be on hand to provide discussion and answer questions after the viewing of a short webinar produced by the Association of Pedestrians and Bicyclists.

Webinar presenters:
Jim Curtin, City of Seattle Department of Transportation
Brian Dougherty, City of Seattle Department of Transportation

1:35 p.m. update on 6/23/15

The fire figures were updated this afternoon. At 8 a.m. they report almost 16,000 acres, then downsized a bit at noon to 13,562 after analyzing infrared reports. The 1:35 p.m. update is as follows:

The Washington Fire is actively burning. It is spreading due to both fuel-and-slope-driven forces and in some some drainages off of the East Fork Carson River. It has also spread to the north and to the east.

Fire is burning in hazardous and inaccessible terrain and approaching an increasing number of structures and impacting travel corridors.

A portion of Sawmill Road will be closed this summer in order as El Dorado County completes a 1.2 mile, Class 1 bicycle and multi-use path that will connect the existing path to the road's intersection with Highway 50.

Work will be done by the County's Transportation Division beginning on June 29 and ending on August 21, 2015.

Motorists will need to use Lake Tahoe Boulevard to access the western section of Sawmill Road in lieu of the Highway 50 route during the closure.

The Lake Tahoe Federal Advisory Committee (LTFAC) is scheduled to meet from 9 a.m. to noon, June 22, 2015, at the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Forest Supervisor’s office, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, Calif., 96150. LTFAC will address issues related to federal activities at Lake Tahoe.

Items on the agenda include an overview of committee history, review of committee charter, update on status of Lake Tahoe Restoration Act and Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act, and discussion of Committee’s future strategy.