Board approves TOT funding for two North Lake Tahoe trail projects and comprehensive trail study

Published Aug. 29, 2024

Trails in eastern Placer County play a pivotal role in alternative transportation, active lifestyles and community connections. The Placer County Board of Supervisors reiterated this fact Tuesday at their meeting in North Lake Tahoe as they unanimously approved funding for three trail-related items.

First, the board authorized the use of $200,000 of Transient Occupancy Tax funds to authorize the Director of Agriculture, Parks, and Natural Resources to contract with Design Workshop, Inc. to begin a North Tahoe regional trails system strategic and fiscal analysis.

The North Tahoe regional trails system, or what has become known as the Resort Triangle Trial, is one of the most heavily used trail systems in California. Conceptualized in the 1970's, this system today features 28 miles of Class 1 paved path separated from the roadways in Tahoe City, Olympic Valley and Dollar Point. Yet, the system lacks key connections to Kings Beach and the Town of Truckee. To complete the full network in eastern Placer County, approximately 38 more miles will need to be constructed.

"This is undoubtedly a huge project at nearly 66 miles in length and I don't believe we'd start a project like this today if there had not already been so much completed," said Parks Administrator Andy Fisher. "But we're seeing how well it's being used and it's becoming a reality-it truly is a tremendous feature for our region."

Trails in the region continue to see increased usage and they play a pivotal role in the county's goals towards alternative transportation options. In recent years, rising costs, stretched resources and added demands have made construction efforts a challenge. Fisher noted that funding for construction of a single mile of trail in the last few years has varied from $2-$20 million.

"Completion of this important study will give decision-makers, operators, and funding partners important data needed to prioritize trail construction projects, maximize grant funding success and anticipate ongoing resources and responsibilities into the future," said Fisher. "We need a coordinated multi-agency strategy to see this through to completion."

At their meeting Tuesday, the board also approved an amendment agreement with the North Tahoe Public Utility District for an additional $500,000 in TOT funding for the Pam Emmerich Memorial Pinedrop Trail reconstruction and extension project.

The board additionally approved $1M in additional TOT funding for the county's Department of Public Works to complete Segment 1 of the North Tahoe Trail. This funding will help complete the 2.52 mile paved Class 1 shared-use trail from Tahoe Vista to Carnelian Bay.

Both trail projects, which connect to the North Tahoe Regional Park, were originally approved at the board's Dec. 12, 2023, meeting.

"Recently, at the Lake Tahoe Summit, we heard something important from Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. He said, 'Trails are not ornamental; they are fundamental,' and that resonated with me" said District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson. "It's critical we support these projects as they are integral to the protection of our natural environment and our goals to improving transportation in the region."

To learn more about TOT-TBID Dollars at Work, visit https://www.northtahoecommunityalliance.com/what-we-do/tot-tbid-dollars-at-work/.

To learn more about the North Tahoe Trail, visithttps://www.placer.ca.gov/8884/North-Tahoe-Trail.

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