NDOT report shows U.S. 50 Tahoe corridor more dangerous than other Nevada highways

STATELINE, Nev. - Sunday's fatal collision on U.S. 50 between Zephyr Cove and Marla Bay is another statistic for a dangerous stretch of road, one that has approximately 63 percent more fatal crashes than similar rural principal arterial highways across Nevada.

The curve of the roadway near the entrance to the Presbyterian Conference Center has seen other recent fatal crashes, including one in November, 2020 that claimed the life of South Lake Tahoe man.

In five years of data, from Jan. 1, 2014 and Jan. 1, 2019, the road from milepost 2.5 to milepost 3.5 had 62 total crashes, including 1 fatality, 20 injury and 41 property-damage-only crashes. Sunday's fatal crash was near milepost 3.

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) has other figures for a larger segment of the highway of which the above one-mile portion is part of, the 7.73-mile segment between Elks Point Road and Glenbrook Drive (milepost 1.95 to milepost 9.68). For that complete stretch over the same five year period there were 285 total crashes, including 6 fatalities, 89 injury and 190 property-damage-only crashes. This stretch has an approximately 59 percent higher fatal crash rate than similar rural principal arterial highways across the state.

With traffic safety and mobility as top priority, NDOT will launch a corridor management plan for U.S. 50 Tahoe, as well as install a traffic signal and other highway improvements over coming years, said NDOT spokesperson Meg Ragonese.

In 2017, NDOT held a well attended public meeting at Zephyr Cove Elementary to share the developing corridor plan and to get input from residents. At that meeting they shared other statistics for the 7.73 mile stretch for the previous seven years - 682 crashes, 404 property damage incidents, 382 injury crashes and 12 fatalities.

NDOT plans to install a new traffic signal at the intersection of U.S. 50 and Warrior Way this summer. By controlling all directions of travel, the signal will help provide designated and safer access to and from the highway at the busy intersection.

As part of the improvements, NDOT is also coordinating with stakeholders and partner agencies, including the USFS, to evaluate opportunities to relocate on-street parking in the immediate area to off-highway parking areas, thus reducing safety concerns associated with vehicles parking along the shoulders of this heavily-traveled section of highway. An infiltration basin will also be installed to enhance natural roadway stormwater infiltration and water quality.

Within the coming five years, the Department also plans to repave and rehabilitate approximately 13 miles of U.S. 50 between Stateline and Spooner Summit for a smoother and safer drive.

In the months ahead, NDOT will launch the U.S. 50 Corridor Management Plan to assess and evaluate all needs on the U.S. 50 Nevada corridor within the Lake Tahoe Basin, said Ragonese.

The study will examine local and regional transit services and potential multi-modal solutions as well as innovative transportation and mobility strategies to ultimately identify a vision, objectives, performance measurements and improvements for the corridor. The corridor vision will recognize regional economic development objectives, the unique seasonal and massive visitor-driven fluctuations in use, local planning and project development activities.

The plan will be developed cooperatively with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), Tahoe Transportation District, United States Forest Service-Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and NDOT. Planning objectives will be consistent with existing Tahoe Regional Planning Agency plans, goals, objectives, as well as goals described in the Lake Tahoe Compact.