Public comment sought for next phase of Stateline-Stateline bikeway

Plans for the next phase of a multi-agency project to connect North Lake Tahoe to South Lake Tahoe along State Route 28 with a Class 1 shared-use pathway are underway, and the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management is seeking public input.

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) just completed their second building season for the project phase from the south end of Incline Village to Sand Harbor. Starting in spring of 2018, they'll work on the final stage of the $36 million, three-plus project with bridges, pathways, slope stabilization and water quality improvements. They plan to be done by the end of 2018 but NDOT may need until the 2019 building season to complete.

The eight-mile stretch from Sand Harbor to Spooner Summit is proposed to be the next phase built to improve highway safety and enhance the corridor’s scenic quality and access to East Shore recreation destinations. The project proposes the construction of a Class-1 shared-use pathway from Spooner Junction to Sand Harbor, installation of retaining walls and slope stabilization measures and construction of connections from the pathway to parking lots and recreational facilities.

Proposed highway improvements would include, expanding the existing parking areas at Secret Harbor and Chimney Beach, constructing two new parking areas at Skunk Harbor and the South Corridor Park-n-Ride, creating safe highway pull-outs along the entire corridor that would include cultural, historical and natural resource interpretive signs and vista points for photo opportunities. In addition, new restroom facilities would be constructed at each parking area and bicycle racks and seating would be installed where feasible.

Proposed utility improvements would include relocating electrical and communication utility lines and the current sewer export pipeline, and installing fire hydrant connections at strategic locations.

Best Management Practices would be installed throughout the project area and would include infiltration basins, drip-line trenches and re-contouring and repaving existing parking areas to ensure proper storm water drainage.

This project is a cooperative effort between the Carson City Regional Transportation Commission, Douglas County, the Federal Highway Administration, Incline Village General Improvement District, Nevada Department of Transportation, Nevada Division of State Parks, Nevada Division of State Lands Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Nevada Highway Patrol, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Tahoe Transportation District, Washoe County, Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California and the U.S. Forest Service.

Comments are most helpful if received by December 23, 2017.

The scoping letter and proposed action is available at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/SR28Corridor.

For more information on the project and how to comment, contact Jennifer Hebert at 530-543-2857 or email jenniferhebert@fs.fed.us.