Traffic

A new website launched by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), Tahoe Transportation District (TTD), and visitor organizations provides a hub of easy-to-access information about a wide range of travel options in the Tahoe Basin.

The goal of www.LinkingTahoe.com is to increase public awareness of travel options for people to get to, from, and around the Tahoe Basin and encourage more people to walk, bike, use transit, take water shuttles, and choose off-peak times to drive to better manage congestion on the region’s roads.

Epic Tahoe Adventure's fourth annual Rock Tahoe Half Marathon returns to Lake Tahoe on Saturday, June 16, 2018. Over 1,600 participants will enjoy the beautiful lake while running from the top of Spooner Summit to the Hard Rock Hotel at Stateline.

Dear Editor,

I don’t typically endorse political candidates, but with the serious issues facing El Dorado County and the need for good leadership in our Supervisor, I’m going to break my own rule in support of Jeffrey Spencer.

While Jeffrey Spencer’s name is not as well known around town as the other candidates, Jeffrey and his family have ties to our community that go back decades. He purchased his home ten years ago with plans to retire here, and has lived here full time for five years. His two sons have attended the Middle School and South Tahoe High.

There are still trout in the Lake Tahoe Basin, but soon there will no longer the large trout sculpture that for years has greeting people to the town of North Lake Tahoe.

The iconic 21-foot trout sculpture has been sitting in the island intersection between State Route 89 and State Route 28 along with the Williamson Tree and Rotary Club flagpole.

Inclement weather has delayed the completion of work on the damaged NV Energy underground electrical vault on Highway 50 at Stateline to Friday, June 1. They had originally planned for work to be completed on May 17.

The road has been paved with a temporary patch and both westbound lanes will remain open to traffic until permanent paving begins on Wednesday, May 30. Eastbound lanes will remain open during the course of work.

CAMP RICHARDSON, SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After meeting with partner agencies, Caltrans has decided to discontinue the use of the pedestrian hybrid beacon crossing device on State Route 89 in Camp Richardson indefinitely.

In an effort to make for safe pedestrian passage across the highway and to manage traffic through the State Highway 89 corridor, Caltrans installed the beacons in 2016 but they were often confusing to drivers with its yellow and red light system.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at time of story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

5/3

11:00 a.m. - Contempt of Court/Violation of Court Order - Cherry Hills Cr - A TAHOE RESIDENT REPORTED THAT A NEIGHBOR HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY VIOLATING A RESTRAINING ORDER.

It's time again for the Amgen Tour of California, and the South Lake Tahoe area once again is host to both the men's and the women's portions of the race.

On Friday, May 18, the town will be the scene for the men's Stage 6 and the women's Stage 2, but with the rolling road closures and number of people in town for the day will take some planning to watch the excitement.

Work resumed May 1 on the SR 89/Fanny Bridge Community Revitalization Project in Tahoe City, a project that will bring a new Truckee River Bridge, three roundabouts, and street improvements including lights and sidewalks.

The old Fanny Bridge will be replaced with one that has a new bridge rail that matches the original bridge rail, plus there will now be sidewalks and bike lanes on both sides.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at time of story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

4/27

NV Energy is in the final stages of work on the underground electrical vault damaged in an April 1 explosion on Highway 50 at Stateline. They expect work will be completed by May 17.

Both westbound lanes will have to be closed starting Monday, May 7 as work continues underground. One of those lanes will reopen on Friday, May 11.Detours will be marked.

Eastbound lanes will remain open throughout the course of work. During this time, NV Energy will be installing equipment specific to the site.

We can always count on either Supervisors Novasel or Ranalli starting off each VHR public meeting discussing VHR’s with the reminder that VHR’s are an allowed use for single family dwellings under TRPA’s land use Ordinances. They have attempted to make us believe the word of God (TRPA) has set this in stone, and that we should all now work together to allow these nuisance businesses to coexist in our neighborhoods.

Many thought the smoke and back up off traffic in front of the casino corridor Friday was the result of another underground explosions, but this time a truck and trailer were the culprit.

Tahoe Douglas Fire responded to the call of heavy smoke on Highway 50 between Harrahs Tahoe and Harvey's.

Two rigs carrying the vehicles were in the westbound lanes when one of them lost their rear trailer axle. There was a resulting brake fire that blew out a tire according to Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District Fire Marshal Eric Guevin. He said it was very smoky but a "minimalistic" fire.

There are several reasons, as well as ideas for a solution, surrounding the traffic jams in Meyers that occur on many Sundays and holidays as vehicles leave the South Lake Tahoe area.

El Dorado County Supervisor Sue Novasel held another town hall meeting about traffic with almost 30 people at the Lake Tahoe Environmental Magnet School this week. She brought along El Dorado County transportation staff and was joined by the California Highway Patrol.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) works on roads at Lake Tahoe, mainly during summer months. The following is their schedule for the week of April 23-28, 2018.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

The intersection of State Route 88 at Centerville Lane will receive a compact traffic roundabout, and construction on it begins Monday, April 23.

From April 23 to 27, daytime lane closures from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. will take place with a pilot car leading traffic in alternating directions through the intersection. An approximately 10-day full closure of the SR 88 and Centerville Lane intersection will then begin Monday, April 30 at 10:00 a.m., with nearby detour available via Mottsville Lane and Foothill Road.

El Dorado County Supervisor Sue Novasel will be holding a public meeting on Wednesday, April 18 to continue the discussion on traffic issues in the Meyers area. The meeting will be held at the Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

This is a follow up to her February 28 meeting on the subject that plagues Meyers neighborhoods on busy Sundays and holidays as visitors leave South Lake Tahoe and head west over Echo Summit.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 955 calls for the 35 days between February 14 - March 20, 2018.

Calls Resulting in Arrests/Citations:

2/14 - 17 calls
Warrant in the 1000 block of Johnson

2/15 - 30 calls
Traffic Collision with Injury at Tahoe Keys Blvd and Venice Dr

2/16 - 23 calls
Drunk in Public in the 4100 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Drunk in Public in the 3800 block of Pioneer Trail

2/17 - 34 calls

11:47 p.m. update: Eastbound lanes on Highway 50 have reopened. The westbound lanes are still closed and traffic must use Lake Parkway instead.

* * *
10:45 p.m. update: Limited traffic will soon be allowed back on two lanes of Highway 50 through Stateline after NV Energy has re-energized their lines and power is back on in the area. As of 10:30 p.m., Douglas County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said it should be about an hour longer until open.

Explosion holes are being patched temporarily and traffic will not be allowed to drive on the plates.

The following was sent to the South Lake Tahoe City Council and was shared with South Tahoe Now:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at time of story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

3/4

3:20 p.m. - Vandalism - BLitzen Rd - R/P CLAIMS THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE CAUSED BY THE 41-YEAR-OLD MALE SUSPECT.

Both lanes of Highway 50 over Echo Summit were closed at times Thursday afternoon after a westbound big rig truck jackknifed near the Sierra at Tahoe turnoff.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the truck slide on the highway at 2:14 p.m., prior to chain controls going up. It jackknifed and ended up in a ditch. A person driving a Toyota 4-runner, also westbound, was slowing to avoid the truck and was rear-ended by a Hyundai that could not be stopped in time.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A 62-year-old man died Tuesday morning after accidentally being run over by his neighbor.

At 5:14 a.m., the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) was called out to the 1800 block of 13th Street on March 13, 2018 after a man was found on the ground of a neighbor's driveway. According to SLTPD Lt. Shannon Laney, a man was backing out of his driveway to go to 7-11 for his morning newspaper and drove over what he thought was a snow berm. When he returned from the store he found his neighbor on ground and police were called.

Many Nevada schoolchildren will take part in organized events that promote walking or bicycling to school on Nevada Moves Day, held March 21.

Walking and bicycling to school events are planned for Carson City, Clark, Washoe, Lyon and many other counties across the state. Children not taking part in an organized school event are encouraged to involve their families in safely walking or bicycling to school on Nevada Moves Day and throughout the year.