Free Micro-transit Shuttles To Fight Traffic Congestion In Tahoe
County of El Dorado
(PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA) July 25, 2022 — Free micro-transit shuttles are a great option to summertime (or anytime) traffic congestion in South Lake Tahoe. Whether you’re on the north, south, or west shore, keep your car parked and grab a free ride that helps Keep Tahoe Blue.
Endless traffic crushes Tahoe’s roads into fine dust and debris that flow into the Lake, damaging its water clarity. Tailpipe emissions fuel climate change, which exacerbates all of the environmental challenges facing Tahoe.
The League uses innovation and advocacy to replace private car trips – and the pollution they create – with Lake-friendly options like microtransit shuttles.
League brought first microtransit to Tahoe
The League launched the Basin’s first microtransit service in 2017.
The League was the first to test on-demand microtransit shuttles in Tahoe back in 2018. We’re excited to see this transportation option pick up steam after the Mountaineer microtransit service has been running successfully in Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows since the winter of 2018. With high ridership on TART Connect and the launch of Lake Link, Tahoe is making progress toward better transportation and reduced pollution.
Once there’s a functioning network of alternative options to travel around the Basin without your car, it’ll open up non-car options to get to and from the Basin, which is good news for Tahoe’s deep blue hue and clarity. The League will continue working to protect the Lake and relieve your travel stress.
Improving transportation to combat pollution
The League has recognized the traffic- and pollution-reducing potential of microtransit for several years. Beyond launching our own pilot program in 2018 and funding TART Connect in 2021, the League’s policy team was instrumental in bringing this transportation option to the south shore.
The League successfully advocated for a reliable and significant source of funding that helped create the Lake Link – the south shore’s version of TART Connect. Our policy and planning experts were heavily engaged in the planning and permitting process for the Tahoe South Event Center. As a condition of approval for the project, we secured financial support for both microtransit and managed parking, which will help reduce private car trips and pollution.
Cave Rock. Photo: Beau Rogers, Flickr CC
We also worked through the South Shore Transportation Management Association to recruit funding from numerous private partners, create an administrative structure to get the program up and running, coordinate with the shuttle operator, secure the necessary government approvals, identify a program manager, and we made a significant financial contribution to support the service. Today, we’re happy to share that this Lake-friendly transportation option is being delivered as the result of collaboration between nearly two dozen partners, administered by the South Shore Transportation Management Association.
With Lake Link’s foundation in place, we’re now working to secure new funding to expand the service area, add more vans, and electrify the fleet so it’s emissions-free.