LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Furthering the regional transportation goals by expanding the micro-transit Lake Link was the focus of two celebrations on Thursday, one at each end of the service area.
The first ribbon-cutting was held at the South Y Center with representatives from the City of South Lake Tahoe, League to Save Lake Tahoe, the Tahoe Chamber, South Shore Transportation Management Association (SSTMA), among others, and members of the public.
The second ribbon-cutting followed soon after at the Ridge Tahoe Resort to celebrate the addition of Kingsbury Grade to the service. Many of the same people were in attendance, with the addition of Douglas County, Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and other partners.
The Lake Link now goes as far west as the airport and South Tahoe High School, up Kingsbury Grade and out to Zephyr Cove. The next phase will be taking service to Cave Rock. The El Dorado County portion of the South Shore it not being included in the current plans since the transit is being paid for by the City of South Lake Tahoe and Douglas County. SSTMA hopes the county can also support micro-transit just as the others are so service can be expanded.
The on-demand, app-based microtransit service offers fare-free rides to go along with the fare-free Tahoe Transportation District buses. Lake Link is meant to be a first-mile-last-mile service, with the in-between movement via bike, scooter, walking, or the bus.
When the permit was approved for the Tahoe Blue Event Center, one requirement was to add micro-transit. Lake Link was that solution and was up and running one year before the center was open, serving 150,000 riders during that time. Last year, 260,000 riders took advantage of the free service that is for locals and visitors alike. SSTMA found that the service was being used in different ways than they expected – rides to the grocery store, doctor’s appointments, and other needed stops, helping those who want to leave the car at home or don’t have a car.
“Car Free-Care Free” is a vision not only started by Keep Tahoe Blue for lake-friendly transportation, but also now shared by SSTMA and Lake Link. The idea of a Car-Free, Care-Free Tahoe means parking your car once and getting wherever you want to go in Tahoe without it using a clean, connected system of buses, bikes, scooters, shuttles, and boats.
Douglas County Commissioner Sharla Hales was part of the second ribbon-cutting. She highlighted the fact that two communities as diverse as South Lake Tahoe and Douglas County could come together and support Lake Link.
For more information on Lake Like, how to download the app, hours of operation, and frequently asked questions, visit https://city.ridewithvia.com/south-tahoe.
