Dear Friends:

For decades the TRPA and other planning agencies have touted public transit as a key item necessary to reduce vehicle use in the Basin. Numerous projects and plans have been approved based on a presumed increased in transit use that will ‘mitigate’ traffic increases. Yet time and time again there has never been adequate funding for transit.

• 2025 Regional Transportation Plan aka “2050 Connections” (adopted July 2025):

  • “Additional revenues for realizing the full vision of enhanced transit frequency, coverage, and expanded services are needed.”

• 2020: Regional Transportation Plan:

  • “The Tahoe Region will continue progress on each of these three steps concurrently, though implementation must be phased both for the system to function as intended and because there is not currently adequate funding available to pay for everything to be implemented today…”

• 2017 Regional Transportation Plan:

  • “Achieving the Lake Tahoe Region’s long-term transportation vision will take time, collaboration, dedication, and successful solutions for significant funding shortfalls.”

• 2012 Regional Transportation Plan aka “Mobility 2035”:

  • “[M]any of the projects needed to implement complete transit and bicycle networks remain unfunded.”

In the meantime, visitation and traffic, especially during peak periods, has risen. Increased populations in surrounding areas have led to more day visitors who tend to drive to/around the Basin. In 2021, the One Tahoe Draft Final Project Report, which examined numerous potential revenue options, stated the obvious:

“Although the solutions to Tahoe’s transportation problems have been known for decades, progress towards implementing the planned transportation system has been slow because existing transportation funding sources have never provided enough money to make the community’s vision a reality.”

It appears the One Tahoe funding effort was abandoned in lieu of more committees discussing ongoing funding shortfalls for the past four years. Past experience tells us that future projects and plans will use the 2025 RTP to support more development, even though necessary transit services are unlikely to be funded and implemented.

FOWS believes that plans and projects that will increase populations and vehicle use should not be approved unless and until a full analysis based on existing conditions and realistic future transportation systems has been completed.

As always in our bi-monthly newsletters, we will keep you updated on West Shore activities and opportunities to participate in land use planning activities. We look forward to your continued feedback and support, and encourage you to contact us with any additional ideas or questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Attention HOAs and other community groups!

As in previous summers, FOWS has been making presentations at West Shore homeowner meetings throughout the summer. Please contact me at jmtornese@aol.com if a FOWS Board member can speak for about 10 minutes at your HOA meeting to update your members on what's happening on the West Shore. Alternatively, we can provide a brief written update on the status of West Shore projects which can be distributed to your members at your meeting.

** Looking for Land Use Technicians (paid) **

FOWS is also looking for part-time/as-needed paid consultants who are passionate about Lake Tahoe and the West Shore and experienced with land use planning and Tahoe’s regulatory environment. Projects would involve reviewing regulatory documents and proposals and/or environmental analyses related to specific subjects (i.e. water quality, transportation). Work would be part-time and on an as-needed basis. Please contact Judi Tornese if you are interested in learning more.

Placer County Tahoe Basin Area Plan (TBAP)

The TRPA Board approved the adoption of their “Phase 2 Housing Amendments” in March, which allow greater density, height, and other changes. For these Phase 2 amendments to take effect in Placer County, the TRPA Code requires the county’s Board of Supervisors to vote to amend Placer’s Tahoe Basin Area Plan (TBAP) to incorporate TRPA’s amendments. The county is currently initiating the associated environmental review and anticipates public hearings for this vote later this year. 

The opening brief in the lawsuit filed by FOWS and other organizations against Placer County’s October 2023 amendments was recently filed with the court. The brief can be viewed here.

TRPA Housing Amendments

The 3rd ‘phase’ of housing amendments (termed “Cultivating Community, Conserving the Basin” by the TRPA) is currently being developed by the Tahoe Living Working Group. A meeting was held on June 23-24 where members discussed priority communities, zones, and policy topics. The draft minutes, including an informative comment letter from the Mountain Area Preservation (MAP) [page 8], can be viewed here. As has been seen to date, proposed ideas will result in more development and traffic; for example, supporting more density, more coverage, and potential increases in the development caps beyond those currently allowed, with a lack of consideration of existing conditions and public safety.

FOWS and others have expressed numerous concerns over recent agency amendments that add more people and vehicles to already congested areas without first examining existing conditions, public safety/emergency access, and assessing mitigation for impacts. FOWS will continue to monitor the next phase.

Homewood Mountain Resort (HMR)

HMR's first report, as required by the Community Access Plan recently approved by TRPA, is due in August. It will include data involving TRPA's monitoring of public access and HMR's plans for the upcoming ski season. 

Emergency Evacuation and Preparedness Resources:

Placer County recently provided some pointers to be prepared during fire season. Items include:

• Low-cost Chipper Program ♻️: Clear hazardous vegetation! Request affordable chipping services today. Request service 

• Know your zone 🗺️: View your property’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone to gauge risk and prioritize action. View zone  

• Stay informed & prepared 📩: Subscribe to the Fire Safe Alliance of Placer County newsletter - stay connected, stay informed, stay wildfire-ready! Subscribe now

• Visit our ReadyPlacer website for resources and tools to protect what matters most. Learn more  

El Dorado's Firesafe Council website provides similar information and resources at https://www.edcfiresafe.org/. 

Rubicon Trail Parking Lot Expansion Project

El Dorado and Placer Counties are planning a project at the Rubicon Trail staging area in Tahoma for off-road vehicles which would include 32 – 34 additional trailer parking spaces and the closing of roadside shoulders to reduce overflow parking. Learn more here. A meeting was held on May 28th to discuss the project.

The project team will complete technical studies to evaluate the environmental effects of the proposed project and those studies will be made available for public review. A second public meeting will be held to solicit feedback on the project and potential environmental effects at a later date.

US Forest Service Electric-bikes and Trails Project

After the USFS recently approved a plan that will allow Class 1 e-bikes on many dirt trails around the Tahoe Basin National Forest Lands. FOWS joined others like Sierra Club to file Objections based on a variety of concerns including user conflicts among hikers, bikers and e-bikers and lack of adequate enforcement personnel. No additional updates have been received since the USFS held a meeting with Objectors in January.

Other updates

• Palisades Tahoe: The League to Save Lake Tahoe and Sierra Watch announced a landmark agreement with Alterra Mountain Company and Palisades Tahoe to limit and cap future development at the famed resort. Read more here.

• Tahoe El Dorado Area Plan (“TED”): There are no new updates at this time. Agency coordinators have stated that a new survey will be posted to the TED website soon as they move into Phase 2.

• Fanny Bridge Rebuild: The Fanny Bridge will be demolished and replaced starting mid-summer.

** Volunteers needed! **

FOWS is seeking volunteers to help us improve our use of social media for education and outreach. Please contact us if you are interested and available!