South Lake Tahoe's Loop Road Project Update

The US 50/South Shore Community Revitalization Project, also known as the Loop Road Project, is halfway through an Environmental Impact Study which should be released in about nine months.

According to Alfred Knotts, Transportation Projects Manager at the Tahoe Transportation District, the environmental studies are quite extensive due to the federal, state and regional requirements needed. Because of the land, water and road work that will be needed to create the Loop Road, some of the agencies that must participate are the City of South Lake Tahoe, Douglas County, El Dorado County, Cal Trans, NDot, the Federal Highway Administration, Nevada State Parks, Lahontan Water Board, Tahoe Conservancy, TRPA and the Army Corps of Engineers. Anyone who has "ownership" in the Loop Road is part of the Project Team. The team has been meeting quarterly.

Knotts said they'll be reengaging with the local business community this summer, prior to the release of the environmental document.

Once the Environmental Impact Study/Review is released in about nine months, the public will be able to provide comment for at least 60 days. TTD will hold meetings and workshops at that time, and because they anticipate many comments, there will be several ways the public can participate.

There are several goals of the revitalization project:

- Making transportation more effective and convenient with better connectivity, reliability and travel times

- Lessening environmental impact with reduced vehicle emissions and better storm water treatment

- Improving vehicular mobility for residents, visitors and commerce

- Reducing conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians, created by congestion in the commercial core and use of the residential back street shortcut

- Renovating properties, currently not being used and targeted by the City of South Lake Tahoe for redevelopment, to relocate impacted residents and businesses

- Providing construction jobs and increasing materials sales locally with the renovations

There is no funding at this time for a creation of the Loop Road since, by law, TTD can't seek any money until the project is approved. "Develop first," said Knotts, "Then seek funds."