Lake Tahoe right-turn restriction pilot program approved for 2022 on US50

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Last year's right-turn restriction pilot program created to mitigate impacts of vehicular traffic in neighborhoods instead of the highway will be extended in 2022.

With a unanimous vote Tuesday, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors approved the turn restrictions from North Upper Truckee Road and Sawmill Road on Sundays and holidays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The right-turn restrictions will be in place starting between May 1 and May 21, 2022, and terminating on Sunday, October 30, 2022.

Over the years there have been several proposed solutions to get the mapping applications on phones (Waze, Google, etc) from sending drivers through neighborhoods during peak traffic times instead of keeping them on US50. It wasn't until two Meyers residents, Jeffrey Spencer and Tony Russo, created the restriction plan and presented it to the County and law enforcement. Their plan is fully enforceable since it uses California Vehicle Code that the apps have to use.

Prior to Spencer and Russo, Kenny Curtzwiler and CHP Lt. Lawther tried to get a County ordinance created to make apps recognize the agriculture station in Meyers as a place drivers could not be redirected around.

El Dorado County Director of Transportation Rafael Martinez presented the item to the supervisors. He asked to try the pilot program one more time since their 2021 experiment did not give a full look at data due to the Caldor Fire. The department wanted to concentrate on data from Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day holiday periods, but with the highway shut down due to the fire, Labor Day statistics were not available.

Martinez said if the pilot is successful he will bring the temporary restrictions back to the Board for a permanent solution. The County is working with Caltrans, California Highway Patrol, and the El Dorado Sheriff's Office on the program.

Caltrans was concerned with the safety aspect of the restrictions during winter, which is what many residents want to see. During last year's test period they saw drivers make left turns at North Upper Truckee Road and US50, only to use the round-a-bout at SR89 to head back up Echo Summit, just as if they made a right turn. They used the neighborhood as a highway and didn't break the law by making a right-hand turn. During winter they are concerned with the safety risks of traction and limited visibility in snow conditions with this habit.

Year-round restrictions will be evaluated after this summer's continuation of the program.

Martinez said they have explored several actions to find remedies, but also can't implement ones that aren't across the board, like "locals only" permissions.

GPS and map systems cause the clogging of neighborhood roads across the country, and just not in Lake Tahoe. Motorists can sit on the roads for hours without facilities, whereas staying on highways they have all amenities.

The success of the turn restrictions is a collaborative effort, and all agencies are at the table along with community input.

Martinez said they will also look at the gridlock in Placerville when motorists leave the highway to get to their destination faster. The resulting gridlock can bring a community/neighborhood to its knees and prevent residents from getting to and from their homes in all areas.

This is not only traffic calming but keeping the cars and trucks where they belong. The two public comments were from Meyers residents, Spencer and Toni Hall. She said winter traffic can get "horrific" and supports the pilot program, and told Spencer there is a lot of neighborhood support of the right-turn ban on the busiest "getaway" days from South Lake Tahoe over Echo Summit.

The new ordinance passed with a unanimous vote.