Opinion: The Loop Road, Good for the town

Many people within the community show reluctance toward the loop road project, believing it would disturb their daily routines, yet the benefits of the road clearly outweigh the downsides.

The loop road could be a possible solution to the pollution challenging Lake Tahoe. Some of the largest threats to the lake’s clarity are vehicle emissions and road runoff. Cars spend more time stopped than they actually do moving, thanks to numerous stoplights, creating an excessive amount of CO2 as well. The loop road would reduce such emissions and improve stormwater treatment by minimizing how long cars spend idling in traffic and by supplying a newer road that’ll diminish sediment production.

This road can also improve economic stability and help businesses flourish. By redirecting the highway behind Heavenly Village, the current location could be transformed into a shopping mall, allowing wider sidewalks and more shops. This area is the core of commercial endeavors in Tahoe, so a mall would attract people to local businesses, supporting native wallets and accommodating vacationers. It would also put the region under local control, stimulating the “main-street” environment that residents wish for. Opening opportunities for mixed-use developments that could replace retired units with new ones, it encourages private investment.

The addition of this road to Highway 50 can increase the safety of pedestrians of bike riders as well. The TTD guarantees more paths which, in turn, will strengthen pedestrian activity. People use residential roads as shortcuts around the highway, but at dangerously high speeds, creating safety hazards for homeowners. If the highway were redirected, it would stop people from using backstreets, making it safer to play on the street and pull out of driveways. The existing route could be designated as a local road, reducing traffic and increasing pedestrian safety.

Lexy Otis is a Junior at South Tahoe High