Final funding in place for South Lake Tahoe's Greenway Trail

The next phase of the South Tahoe Greenway Shared Use Trail will now be completed by El Dorado County, a move that is estimated to save $1,000,000.

During this week's meeting of the California Tahoe Conservancy Board, approval was given to the transfer of a $3.182 million grant to El Dorado County to build the next phase of the South Tahoe Greenway Shared Use Trail. Conservancy staff recommended transferring the project from the State to the County who they said is in an advantageous position to deliver the project, and has indicated that it can complete the Project in a timely manner.

The Conservancy completed construction of the first phase in October 2015, providing a .42-mile neighborhood connection between Glenwood Way and Herbert Avenue.

The Greenway is a 3.86-mile trail connection between the Tahoe Sierra (formerly “Sierra Tract”) neighborhood and Van Sickle Bi-State Park. The trail alignment generally follows the decades old right-of-way originally obtained by Caltrans to build a bypass freeway.

“This portion of the trail is an important link between the Tahoe Sierra and Bijou neighborhoods, Lake Tahoe Community College, and the community playfields said El Dorado County Supervisor and Conservancy Board Member Sue Novasel. “The County is well positioned to construct the trail, given its extensive experience building trails in sensitive environments at Lake Tahoe.”

“The Greenway Trail is the result of a strong partnership between the Conservancy, the College, the City of South Lake Tahoe, and the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition and we are pleased to now include El Dorado County in this partnership,” said Conservancy Board Chair Brooke Laine. This was Laine’s first full meeting as Chair, replacing longtime Chair Larry Sevison.

Lake Tahoe Community College, the City of South Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Conservancy have been partners in the project that included land swaps and funding. The County's participation is the last piece of the puzzle.

To date, the Conservancy board has authorized $2,662,000 for planning, preliminary designs, and acquisitions for the entire Greenway, and final design and construction of the first section of the Greenway (Phase 1a). The Conservancy and the Department of General Services (DGS) completed construction of Phase 1a in October 2015, providing a 0.42-mile neighborhood connection between Glenwood Way and Herbert Avenue. The Project extends the shared use trail for about a mile from the terminus of Phase 1a at Glenwood Way to Sierra Boulevard. Together with Phase 1a and a previously completed trail by the community ballfields, the Project will provide almost two miles of continuous shared use trails in the heart of South Lake Tahoe. The Project includes a new bridge over Trout Creek, improved local street crossings, interpretive and wayfinding signage, and significant sections of raised boardwalk to protect sensitive stream environment zone.

This next phase will cost $5,500,000, with this $3,182,000 ($2,532,000 coming from Conservancy and $650,000 from LTCC), $1,928,000 from Caltrans Active Transportation Program (ATP) grants and $390,000 from Tahoe Transportation District Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds.

Construction will start in 2019 and estimated completion in 2020.