Free on-demand transportation service launches in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Lake Link is a new micro-transit service that is officially launching in South Lake Tahoe on Friday, July 22. It will provide free on-demand transportation with a fleet of vans operating from Al Tahoe Blvd. through the Stateline corridor.

Lake Link will operate 365 days per year, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays in summer and winter.

For a map of the service area, see photo above or visit www.tahoelakelink.com. Lake Link will connect with Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) routes to expand the service area. TTD buses are also free.

The South Shore Transportation Management Association (SSTMA) plans to expand the service as demand increases and additional funding becomes available. While free to the public, the service isn't free to operate and is being funded through a collaboration of 20 public and private partnerships. El Dorado County has given $200,000 to the program, the City of South Lake Tahoe $100,000, and $1.2 million from the casinos and South Tahoe Alliance of Resorts. Douglas County commissioners have not decided on how much of their Tourist Occupancy Taxes will go to the service.

"I'm really excited for the community," said Raymond Suarez, Lake Link program manager. "Transit is one of the building blocks of the fabric of the community - it is valued in the same way. This is a game changer."

Until March, Suarez was the CEO of the Denton County Transportation Authority in Texas where they had micro-transit services for the fastest growing area of Texas. He has launched micro-transit in nine cities including North Dallas and Frisco and was hired by SSTMA to head up its new program.

Lake Link will join Lake Tahoe's other on-demand transit services at Alpine/Palisades, Vail, and Incline Village.

To start off the South Lake Tahoe/Stateline service there will be four vans, 3 in service and 1 used as a spare when needed. These are temporary vehicles and the ones they've ordered are expected in December. Suarez said there will be both electric vehicles and gas ones (until four-wheel-drive electric transport vans are made for heavy snow days).

“Getting from point A to point B, especially in your own car, is a major contributor of pollution in the Basin. That makes improving transportation a priority for the League to Save Lake Tahoe,” said League CEO Darcie Goodman Collins. “Free, app-based, on-demand services like Lake Link will help people keep their cars parked and enjoy Tahoe in a Lake-friendly way.”

“After launching Tahoe’s first micro-transit pilot project in 2018, to supporting TART Connect on the north shore, and recruiting funding from 20 organizations to make Lake Link happen, it’s been a journey to get here. Now it’s your turn to download the app and grab a free ride,” added Collins.

Download the free app here. The service is only available through the app.