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LAKE TAHOE — About $4.5 million for two bikeway projects at Lake Tahoe has been secured by Tahoe Transportation District through the Nevada Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation, officials announced Friday.
The projects include:
• a route connecting East Shore Drive National Scenic Byway from Incline Village to Sand Harbor State Park; and
• development of a 3.2-mile segment between Stateline and Round Hill at the South Shore — part of an eventual 43-mile route along U.S. Highway 50.
According to a TTD press release, the Federal Highway Administration invited states to apply for federal grants in June and received more than 1,800 applications, totaling nearly $13 billion, 30 times the available funding. Nevada received $11.5 million for projects.
“With the potential loss of federal funding for Tahoe transportation projects and jobs due to Nevada SB 271 as well as inaction on reauthorization of the transportation bill in Washington, this funding investment positively impacts our safety, quality of life and environment in Nevada,” said Carl Hasty, TTD district manager in a statement.
Nevada Senate Bill 271 is legislation that would sever ties between Nevada and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, thereby jeopardizing federal transportation funding, unless certain benchmarks are met by 2015 that require both U.S. Congress and state of California approval.
According to the press release, with economic, safety and environmental issues of major concern — transportation systems cause up to 70 percent of the particulates affecting lake clarity — TTD is advocating a regional approach to transportation issues inviting representatives from the public and private sectors to the table.
“As a major tourism destination for residents of both California and Nevada, it's imperative that Tahoe works together to develop a strong, unified voice for our regional transportation needs,” Hasty said. “With the funding challenge of future transportation projects at the lake, the need for this joint regional effort is obvious. Previous projects have shown that transportation investments lead to additional business investments, which is critical in this economy.”
The projects include:
• a route connecting East Shore Drive National Scenic Byway from Incline Village to Sand Harbor State Park; and
• development of a 3.2-mile segment between Stateline and Round Hill at the South Shore — part of an eventual 43-mile route along U.S. Highway 50.
According to a TTD press release, the Federal Highway Administration invited states to apply for federal grants in June and received more than 1,800 applications, totaling nearly $13 billion, 30 times the available funding. Nevada received $11.5 million for projects.
“With the potential loss of federal funding for Tahoe transportation projects and jobs due to Nevada SB 271 as well as inaction on reauthorization of the transportation bill in Washington, this funding investment positively impacts our safety, quality of life and environment in Nevada,” said Carl Hasty, TTD district manager in a statement.
Nevada Senate Bill 271 is legislation that would sever ties between Nevada and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, thereby jeopardizing federal transportation funding, unless certain benchmarks are met by 2015 that require both U.S. Congress and state of California approval.
According to the press release, with economic, safety and environmental issues of major concern — transportation systems cause up to 70 percent of the particulates affecting lake clarity — TTD is advocating a regional approach to transportation issues inviting representatives from the public and private sectors to the table.
“As a major tourism destination for residents of both California and Nevada, it's imperative that Tahoe works together to develop a strong, unified voice for our regional transportation needs,” Hasty said. “With the funding challenge of future transportation projects at the lake, the need for this joint regional effort is obvious. Previous projects have shown that transportation investments lead to additional business investments, which is critical in this economy.”
