No planned weekend traffic relief in Meyers this winter

MEYERS, Calif. - Residents attending the El Dorado County Town Hall meeting in Meyers on Thursday didn't hear what they wanted to about the upcoming winter and any plans that could be put in place to alleviate traffic jams in neighborhoods.

As is the case with all meetings concerning traffic in Meyers, there were several audience members with ideas from instituting maximum vehicles allowed in the Lake Tahoe Basin to turn restrictions and road closures during specific hours.

The County's Department of Transportation (DOT) Director Rafael Martinez told the few dozen at the meeting that his hands are tied when restrictions happen on US50 or at its insections with county roads. Caltrans has full control over state roads.

On busy Sundays and holidays, visitors to Lake Tahoe make their westward exit toward home through the town of Meyers at the base of Echo Summit on US50. The popularity of mapping applications like Google and Waze have pushed drivers into neighborhoods at the first hint of traffic on US50. The result on several days was deadlocked traffic that led to short tempers and residents unable to get to their homes.

Supervisor Sue Novasel, who called the meeting, said they have unsuccessfully tried programs to alleviate traffic and the resulting anger.

Since 2016, DOT has tried to fix the problem through nudging, traction control signage, road closures on North Upper Truckee and Sawmill Road. No one solution has been found to fix the traffic issue and some created too much back up where drivers took 4-6 hours to move the eight miles from South Lake Tahoe to Echo Summit.

"We are constantly thinking and addressing the issues," said Martinez.

The map app companies are also not being cooperative. Martinez said DOT sent a "cease and desist" on their habit of sending cars down neighborhood roads or "we'll sue you." He said the companies did not respond or change their algorithms that are always looking for the shortest and quickest route without concern for chain controls or signs of closure.

He and his team have a meeting with Caltrans in December to find alternatives and what Martinez hopes is a "viable option" to keep visitors on the highway and residents on neighborhood streets.

"I want to stick it to Caltrans," said Martinez. "They turn lights off on ideas."

One idea they will be presenting is one suggested by resident (and transportation expert) Jeffrey Spencer.

His plan is to have legal turn restrictions on Sawmill Road and North Upper Truckee on big travel days. For example, if the law (vehicle code) says nobody can turn right on those two roads between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Sundays, the map companies will have to take those road options off their apps.

This method had been successful in towns like Fremont and Menlo Park in the Bay Area.

Spencer and Meyers resident Tony Risso's other portion of the plan gives deviation on turns that will not allow any drivers to get back onto US50 and the circulation would allow residents to get in and out. This plan also has 46 turn restrictions in Meyers, something Martinez is not quite ready to fight Caltrans over, but he is interested in trying the time restrictions as a pilot program and see what happens.

"The County is not going to stop," said Martinez of their looking for solutions.

What can work is the current Traction Ordinance with signage, keeping cars off North Upper Truckee and other mountain roads unless they have chains or 4WD with snow tires on. If a car is found to be without they can be ticketed, but law enforcement would have to be on those back roads constantly to enforce, something they don't have the manpower for.

Another idea brought up often by resident Ken Curtzwiler (who was not at the meeting) is the utilization of the Agriculture Station (Bug Station) on US50 and laws that prevent vehicles from avoiding it by going on Mandan, North Upper Truckee and Sawmill Rd. CHP Lt. Terry Lowther said officers would not be able to determine a vehicle's route and if they did indeed not go through the bug station. "Where did they come from?" he said. The only way officers would know is if they followed the vehicle the whole way and watch them.

"It's not about physical enforcement," Lowther said. "It's about the apps. Permanent shut down and closures work."

Risso is encouraging those who want change and an end to Meyers turning into a parking lot on weekends to visit his Change.org page HERE.

In the meantime, there are several things visitors can do to help alleviate the traffic jams on "exit Tahoe" days:

Leave later in the day and not at the same time as everyone else. Or, in the morning....before 10:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m., or stay an extra day and leave Monday.

Watch the Quickmaps traffic cameras and message boards for up to the minute information.

Stick to US50 and do not veer into neighborhoods.

Use the restroom and get food before leaving South Lake Tahoe.

Put chains on before getting to Meyers if there are chain restrictions.

Supervisor Novasel and Director Martinez will continue to come to the community via meetings to keep all informed.