Bus service faces drastic change in South Lake Tahoe; Public meeting Friday

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Public comment closes this week on plans released by the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) that address issues the agency is facing to be sustainable. Major changes are in store for riders.

Four plans were created as bus service cannot continue as it currently is due to several factors, including the cost of fleet replacement and improvement, funding availability and forecasted funds, regulatory compliance, and keeping and attracting drivers and staff.

So far, TTD has received input from the public, most of it concerning Route 23 over Kingsbury Grade and down into the valley. Tahoe Transportation District Manager Carl Hasty said they will discuss options with the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to keep that route.

Winter routes are possibly on the cutting block even with some funding from Vail Resorts, and direct routes from the Y to Stateline will go through a new electric bus hub at Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC).

A new microtransit pilot system in South Lake Tahoe, Chariot, would not hamper TTD's service and they would help reach areas they are unable to.

"We welcome their introduction," said Hasty who has been speaking with Chariot.

"We know there are areas they could fill, including recreation properties (first and last mile), going to VHRs (vacation home rentals), getting people around more and out of cars," said Hasty. He said Chariot has several vehicles and has a more integrated system and ability to communicate with the public (via their app).

Hasty said bus ridership is down across the country. Lake Tahoe, both north and south shores, has a large seasonal workforce base. With fewer employees at the entry level there are fewer riders. Fewer workers due to less housing, an issue that factors in to many things in Lake Tahoe, said Hasty.

But, TTD cannot wait for housing to be addressed. They will be having a public meeting on July 13, 2018 at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency board room at 128 Market Street, Stateline, Nevada at 9:30 a.m.

None of the planned approaches meets every challenge, the Baseline approach gives TTD a new solid base of services that can be added upon if funding were to increase.

The Four Plans

1. Existing Service - operating 20 hours and services South Lake Tahoe, the Carson Valley, the East Shore Express, Emerald Bay Shuttle (trolley), winter routes to Heavenly and demand response. This is not sustainable at this time and is not an option, just provided for comparison. TTD does not have sufficient staff, fleet, or
secured funding to operate this approach. It does not make progress towards meeting required performance measures, which can jeopardize existing funding sources.

• Route 50: Serving the US 50 Corridor, including Barton Hospital, from the South Y Transit Center to the Kingsbury Transit Center
• Route 53: Serving the neighborhoods south of US 50 Corridor from the South Y Transit Center to the Kingsbury Transit Center
• Route 19x: Gardnerville/Minden to Carson City
• Route 20x: Stateline Transit Center to Gardnerville/Minden
• Route 23: Connecting Stateline Transit Center, Kingsbury Transit Center, Tahoe Village, and the Ridge Resorts
• East Shore Express: Connecting parking in Incline Village with Sand Harbor State Park
• Emerald Bay Shuttle (Trolley): Serving the South Y Transit Center to Tahoe City
• Winter Routes: 10 (Pioneer Trail); 11 (Casino Corridor); 12 (Ski Run); 13 (US 50); 14 (Boulder/Stagecoach); and 15 (Stateline to Heavenly NV)
• Demand Response Service: The service area extends far beyond the ¾ mile requirement (north to Cave Rock, east to top of Kingsbury, west to Camp Richardson, and south to Christmas Valley)

2. Baseline - Cuts time of operation in half to 10 hours. These changes are projected to increase frequency in the US 50 corridor, increase access to neighborhoods, position TTD to utilize electric buses, and better integrate their transit policies with national best practices. Allows buses to retire far beyond their useful life and focus limited maintenance resources on those buses in a state of good repair. The Baseline approach represents responsible operation of public transit with the secured funding currently available. The Baseline adds effective service and subtracts unproductive service, helping TTD meet required performance measures.

• Routes 50A & 50B: The existing Route 50 will be split into two routes mirroring the existing Route 50 serving the US 50 corridor, including Barton Hospital, from the South Y Transit Center to the Kingsbury Transit Center, with the added benefit of serving LTCC in both directions. Both routes will operate every 30 minutes
• Routes 54 & 55: These are two separate routes that will circulate to the east and west of LTCC, replacing the existing Route 53. The western Route 54 will connect Meyers to the South Y Transit Center, Tahoe Verde, Sierra Gardens, and LTCC. The eastern Route 55 will connect LTCC and midtown to Stateline, including Kelly Ridge.
Both routes will operate every 30 minutes
• East Shore Express: Connecting parking areas in Incline Village with Sand Harbor State Park.
• Complementary Paratransit Service: Proposed service area to extend one mile beyond the fixed routes.

Routes to be discontinued:
- Commuter Routes 19x and 20x
- Emerald Bay Shuttle (Trolley)
- Route 23
- Winter Routes: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15

3. Balanced - Operates 16 hours and increases frequency in the US 50 corridor, increase access to neighborhoods, and position TTD to utilize electric buses. TTD does not have sufficient secured funding to operate this approach. While progress is made towards meeting performance measures, structural inefficiencies may jeopardize existing funding sources. The Balanced approach relies on discretionary funding and use of one-time only funding to avoid an operating deficit.

• Routes 50A & 50B: The existing Route 50 will be split into two routes mirroring the existing Route 50 serving the US 50 corridor, including Barton Hospital, from the South Y Transit Center to the Kingsbury Transit Center, with the added benefit of serving LTCC in both directions. Both routes will operate every 30 minutes.
• Routes 54 & 55: These are two separate routes that will circulate to the east and west of LTCC, replacing the existing Route 53. The western Route 54 will connect Meyers to the South Y Transit Center, Tahoe Verde, Sierra Gardens, and LTCC. The eastern Route 55 will connect LTCC and midtown to Stateline, including Kelly Ridge.
Both routes will operate every 30 minutes.
• Route 19x: Gardnerville/Minden to Carson City
• Route 20x: Stateline Transit Center to Gardnerville/Minden
• East Shore Express: Connecting parking in Incline Village with Sand Harbor State Park
• Emerald Bay Shuttle (Trolley): Serving the South Y Transit Center to Tahoe City
• Winter Routes: 10 (Pioneer Trail) and 12 (Ski Run)
• Complementary Paratransit Service: Proposed service area to extend one (1) mile beyond the fixed routes.

Routes to be discontinued:
- Route 23
- Winter Routes: 11, 13, 14, and 15

4. Sustainable - Operates 12 hours and increases frequency in the US 50 corridor,
increase access to neighborhoods, and positions TTD to utilize electric buses. The Sustainable approach provides a commuter connection to Meyers, with two trips per day. The paratransit service area would not extend to Meyers, since it is served by a commuter route. TTD does not have sufficient secured funding to operate this approach. While progress is made towards meeting performance measures, structural inefficiencies may jeopardize existing funding sources. The Sustainable approach relies on discretionary funding and use of one-time only funding to avoid an
operating deficit.

• Route 50A & 50B: The existing Route 50 will be split into two routes mirroring the existing Route 50 serving the US 50 Corridor, including Barton Hospital, from the South Y Transit Center to the Kingsbury Transit Center with the added benefit of serving LTCC in both directions. Both routes will operate every 30 minutes.
• Route 55: Connects LTCC and midtown to Stateline, including Kelly Ridge. Route will operate every 30 minutes
• Route 18x: Commuter service to Meyers twice a day
• Route 19x: Gardnerville/Minden to Carson City
• Route 20x: Stateline Transit Center to Gardnerville/Minden
• East Shore Express: Connecting parking areas in Incline Village with Sand Harbor State Park
• Emerald Bay Shuttle (Trolley): Serving the South Y Transit Center to Tahoe City
• Winter Routes: 10 (Pioneer Trail) and 12 (Ski Run)
• Complementary Paratransit Service: Proposed service area to extend one (1) mile beyond the fixed routes; excluding commuter routes (18x, 19x, and 20x)

Routes to be discontinued:
- Route 23
- Winter Routes: 11, 13, 14, and 15

The plans and options to comment can be found here: http://www.tahoetransportation.org/transit. The comment period closes on Friday, July 13, 2018.

Comments can be sent to planning@tahoetransportation.org via email, or by mail to
Tahoe Transportation District
Attn: Transit Public Comments
P.O. Box 499
Zephyr Cove, NV 89448