Tahoe Transportation District appoints Russell Nygaard as Transportation Capital Program Manager

The Tahoe Transportation District recently appointed Russ Nygaard as transportation capital program manager to oversee the planning, design and execution of the agency's capital projects.

With 26 years engineering experience in transportation and bridge projects, Nygaard will perform project management duties and assist with funding procurement and budget maintenance while ensuring all federal requirements are met and executed on schedule.

"Russ Nygaard's regional experience as a structural and civil engineer and his familiarity with the various agencies are major assets as we continue the momentum with successful project implementation throughout the Tahoe Basin," said Carl Hasty, district manager for the Tahoe Transportation District.

Nygaard's experience includes director of construction management at Blackburn Consulting in Auburn, Calif. from 2014-2015; California regional manager at Collins Engineers, also in Auburn from 2011-2014, handling projects and strategic plans in the Western United States. From 2005-2011, he was the deputy director of engineering at El Dorado County Department of Transportation in Placerville, Calif., where he handled capital and public works projects for all county structures and properties, and implemented environmental improvements to help protect the lake. Nygaard was the liaison with the California Tahoe Conservancy, TTD, Lahontan Regional Water Board, and Steering Committee of the Tahoe Interagency Executives Committee.

Nygaard, 50, has been assisting with projects in the Tahoe Basin since 2007, including the Sawmill Bike Path, Lakeview Commons water front and county campground improvements. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science in Structural Engineering both at the University of Illinois. Nygaard has lived in Northern California since 1989.

Nygaard's immediate priorities include the implementation of three current TTD efforts: SR 89/Fanny Bridge, US Highway 50 South Shore Community Revitalization, and SR 28 Corridor/NV Stateline to Stateline Bikeway Projects.

The environmental documents for SR 89 Fanny Bridge Community Revitalization Project were certified in April 2015 with the preferred alternative selected. The new two-lane bridge will be similar in size to the existing structure and will span the Truckee River with a realignment of state Route 89 and the addition of a two-lane road east of the existing Caltrans yard to West Lake Boulevard. This alternative includes three roundabouts that form a triangle - one at the "Wye" (intersection of state Route 89 and state Route 28) and one at either end of the new alignment. The project design is scheduled for completion in early 2016. Numerous Tahoe City residents, businesses and property owners have been involved and will continue to offer input on aesthetic features, landscaping and other design elements. Work is scheduled to start in 2016 with estimated completion in 2018.

Nygaard will also manage the US 50 South Shore Community Revitalization Project that intends to realign US Highway 50 near Stateline with four lanes along Lake Parkway East behind Harrah's, MontBleu and the Village Shopping Center (formerly the Crescent V), while converting the artery through the casino core into three lanes with thoroughfares reconnecting at Pioneer Trail in California. A reclassification from federal highway to local street status will provide for local area control and the development of a "main street" in the casino core area.

Additional project benefits include affordable housing for the South Lake Tahoe workforce, improved pedestrian and driver safety in the project area, and upgraded water quality measures to help protect the lake. A previous study indicated that 70 percent of the pollutants impacting Lake Tahoe's clarity come from transportation system and developed area run-off. The Draft Environmental Document will be available for public review in fall 2015. Following circulation of the Environmental Document and review of all public comments, the lead agencies will select a preferred alternative and consider the project for approval in summer 2016. Upon completion of final design and pending funding, it will go to bid for construction.

"I've had the opportunity to work with TTD on a number of projects over the past several years, and through that experience developed an appreciation for the positive progress the District has made and benefits of the programs they have undertaken," said Nygaard. "The momentum the District has created has led to an appreciation of the area's transportation programs, not only among its partner agencies, but on a national level, and is why I'm looking forward to being a part of the team."

- South Tahoe Now Staff Report