TAHOE CITY, Calif. — A significant amount of money has been awarded to help fill two missing Tahoe trail links.

The California Tahoe Conservancy board last Thursday authorized $1 million in grants for the Homewood Bike Trail and Dollar Creek Trail, with each getting $500,000.

“These investments are key milestones in our efforts to develop bikeways around the lake,” said Larry Sevison, chair of the conservancy board. “They provide spectacular recreational opportunities, connect our communities, and improve the environment and economy of the basin.”

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The grant reduces funding needed for the Homewood trail to roughly $200,000 to $300,000, said Cindy Gustafson, Tahoe City Public Utility District general manager.

Estimated cost for the one-mile stretch between Cherry and Fawn streets, running mostly along Highway 89, is $1.8 million, she said. Prior secured funding sources include the Placer County Transient Occupancy Tax, nonprofit Tahoe Fund and the CTC.

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Construction is slated for 2014, with completion by fall 2015.

The Homewood Trail would complete the bike trail network from Tahoe City to Sugar Pine State Park on the West Shore and improve user safety.

“TCPUD is gratified that after 40 years of a missing link, this project is finally moving forward to construction,” said Lou Reinkens, TCPUD board president. “The California Tahoe Conservancy’s dedication of staff support and funding is instrumental in making this trail segment a reality.”

As for the Dollar Creek Trail, Placer County plans to use the $500,000 CTC grant to purchase private property to secure public right-of-way for the 2.2-mile trail.

Previous funding includes $200,000 from the Placer County Transient Occupancy Tax and $435,000 from the CTC, said Peter Kraatz, deputy director of Placer County’s Department of Public Works.

The 10-foot-wide, multi-use paved trail will extend from the crest of Dollar Hill to the end of Fulton Crescent Drive. It’s estimated to cost more than $4 million, including planning, design and construction, Kraatz said.

Potential funding sources include the Federal Land Access Program, Federal Recreational Trails Program and additional county TOT.

Pending secured funding, trail construction could start in 2015, with it becoming available for public use by 2017, Kraatz said.

The Dollar Creek Trail will extend the existing 19-mile multi-use trail network that runs from Dollar Hill west to Tahoe City, south to Sugar Pine State Park and north to Squaw Valley.