Category: Planning
Proposed Changes to Routes 50 & 55
The Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) is always looking for ways to make riding the bus easier, more reliable, and better suited to meet rider’s needs. TTD is considering changes to Routes 50 and 55 that would help buses run more on time, reduce wait times, and improve connections for riders. Staff have put together two possible options. Your input will help decide which changes will best serve residents, workers, and visitors who count on transit.
Share your thoughts and help shape the future of Routes 50 & 55 by filling out a quick survey: English, Español or Tagalog.
Option 2/2: Two Buses on Route 50 & Two Buses on Route 55
- Route 55 would operate only between Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) and Kingsbury Transit Center. Riders traveling west of LTCC would transfer to Route 50.
- Route 50 would continue to operate between the Y Transit Center and Stateline Transit Center PLUS Route 50 would extend to cover the D Street loop and enter LTCC westbound and eastbound.
- Two buses would operate on Route 55, increasing frequency to every 30 minutes.
- Two buses would operate on Route 50, maintaining frequency at every 30 minutes.
Option 3/1: Three Buses on Route 50 & One Bus on Route 55
- Route 55 would operate only between LTCC and Stateline Transit Center. Riders traveling west of LTCC would transfer to Route 50. Riders travelling east of Stateline Transit Center, would have to transfer route 50.
- Bally’s/Tahoe Blue Events Center (#4271) would no longer be served by route 55. Riders travelling eastbound from Stateline Transit Center would transfer to route 50.
- Route 50 would extend to cover the D Street loop, enter LTCC westbound and eastbound, and continue to Kingsbury Transit Center.
- Route 50 would continue to serve most stops between LTCC and the Y Transit Center.
- One bus would operate on Route 55, maintaining frequency at every 60 minutes.
- Three buses would operate on Route 50, maintaining frequency every 30 minutes.
Why These Options are Being Considered
Both proposals reduce overlapping service west of LTCC and are designed to:
- Improve travel reliability (on-time performance)
- Increase frequency where demand is highest
Public Comment Period
A public comment period regarding these changes is now open. Members of the public are invited to provide comments regarding these proposed changes prior to implementation. Please submit comments by email to planning@tahoetransportation.org. All comments received will be part of the public record. Comments received before October 24 will be included in the agenda packet. Comments received after October 24 will be transmitted directly to the Board members.
The Tahoe Transportation District Board of Directors will hold a Public Hearing on November 5, 2025 to receive comments, close the public comment period, and take possible action. Board meeting details are available on TTD’s website at: https://www.tahoetransportation.org/meetings-and-agendas/
Proposed Routes 50 & 55 Changes en Espanol
Proposed Route 22 Changes
Route changes are coming, beginning with Route 22. As part of the Tahoe Transportation District’s ongoing efforts to improve efficiency, reliability, and the overall rider experience, the Board of Directors has discussed proposed service adjustments, including the potential permanent closure of the stops along the Tramway Drive/Quaking Aspen Lane loop.
Summary of Proposed Changes
- Permanent closure of the following stops along the Tramway Drive/Quaking Aspen Lane loop.
- Quaking Aspen Lane & Tahoe Vacation Condos (4288)
- Quaking Aspen Lane & Galaxy Lane (4280)
- Quaking Aspen Lane & Ridge Club Drive (1008)
- Quaking Aspen Lane & Tramway Drive (5025)
- Tramway Drive & Bonnie Drive (5026)
- Tramway Drive & Jack Drive (4297)
- Tramway Drive & Fox and Hound (4296)
- Tramway Drive & Milky Way Court (4278)
- Tramway Drive & North Bowl Lane (4257)
- Tramway Drive & Olympic Court (5024)
- Tramway Drive & SR 207 (4303)
- Tramway Drive & Wells Fargo Lane (4269)
- Tramway Drive & Worldmark (4299)
- The eastbound stop at the top of Daggett Pass –Tramway Drive & Tina Court (5051) will remain OPEN. There will not be a westbound stop at Daggett Pass at this time.
- The Paratransit service will be revised to be consistent with this route change.
Public Comment Period
A public comment period regarding these changes is now open. Members of the public are invited to provide comments regarding these proposed changes prior to implementation. Please submit comments by email to planning@tahoetransportation.org. All comments received will be part of the public record. Comments received before September 18 will be included in the agenda packet. Comments received after September 18 will be transmitted directly to the Board members.
The Tahoe Transportation District Board of Directors will hold a Public Hearing on October 1, 2025 to receive comments, close the public comment period, and take possible action. Board meeting details are available on TTD’s website at: https://www.tahoetransportation.org/meetings-and-agendas/
Implementation Date
If the changes to Route 22 are approved at the October 1, 2025 meeting, the implementation date is planned for November 1, 2025.
Rider Information
- Updated route maps and schedules will be posted on the TTD’s website (tahoetransportation.org) and at all major transit centers prior to the implementation date.
For additional information, please contact Jason Burke, Senior Transportation Planner at 775-589-5503.
Proposed Route 22 Changes en Espanol
New solar-powered trailer set up at Highway 50 and Lake Parkway
You may have noticed a new solar-powered trailer set up at Highway 50 and Lake Parkway — it’s part of TTD’s SMART (Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation) grant project funded by the US Department of Transportation. This innovative technology is helping us collect traffic data to better understand how people travel in and around the Lake Tahoe Basin so we can make smarter, data-driven decisions that improve safety, mobility, reduce congestion, and support environmental sustainability.
The trailer is equipped with sensors to collect anonymized traffic data, including travel patterns, vehicle counts, pedestrian movements, and safety events and travel times. This information will support future transit improvements, trail planning, and safer infrastructure throughout the region. It’s all part of our mission to keep Tahoe moving while preserving the beauty and quality of life in our mountain community.
Learn more about the SMART Grant and how we’re using technology to shape the future of transportation HERE.
*No personal information is collected. License Plate Recognition (LPR) is not utilized for this project.
JASON BURKE JOINS TTD AS SENIOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNER
The Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) is pleased to welcome Jason Burke, AICP, as its new Senior Transportation Planner. Jason brings a wealth of experience in urban planning, stormwater management, and climate resilience to the role, further strengthening TTD’s commitment to delivering sustainable and innovative transportation solutions for the Lake Tahoe region.
Jason joins TTD after serving as Complete Streets Program Manager for the City of South Lake Tahoe, where he led efforts to protect Lake Tahoe’s water clarity by reducing sediment and nutrient pollutants in urban runoff and improving community mobility options. His work included designing and maintaining urban runoff treatment systems, advancing Complete Streets initiatives, and supporting multimodal transportation projects that benefit the community and visitors alike.
Read the full press release HERE.
Tahoe Transportation District receives SMART grant for traffic data collection
New traffic counts will support regional transportation planning
March 20, 2024
Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) received a Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grant from the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) to plan for and evaluate multimodal traffic data collection technologies. This will allow the region to better understand the number of vehicles entering and leaving the Lake Tahoe Basin as well as other transportation needs to help manage traffic operations and safety concerns.
Types of Projects supported by the USDOT SMART Grant program
Source: USDOT, SMART Grants Program | US Department of Transportation
FAQs
Who is involved?
TTD, along with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), US Department of Transportation, Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), US Forest Service, and local governments in the Tahoe region, are collaborating to identify the most suitable locations for this traffic data collection pilot program.
What is the SMART grant program?
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) created the competitive SMART grant program to provide funding to public agencies to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies that improve transportation efficiency and safety. The TTD grant will test data collection technologies in the Lake Tahoe Basin, which has unique challenges related to climate and availability of utilities for traditional data collection methods.
How long will the project last?
SMART grants are intended to be completed within 18 months. The project is currently in the planning stage and data collection is expected to begin during the summer of 2024.
Where and how will data be collected?
TTD, TRPA, and other partner agencies are currently working to identify the most suitable technology and locations for traffic data collection. Priority locations may include entry points into the Lake Tahoe Basin and high-traffic areas across the region. Information that could be used to identify individuals, such as license plates, will NOT be collected.
Why is this project needed?
The Lake Tahoe Region has unique travel patterns due to a combination of local residential and commercial trips plus visitation from around the region and the world. However, there is limited information about exactly how many vehicles are travelling around the region and how this varies by season, holiday periods, time of day, and specific location. Information about how many people walk, bicycle, or use other ways to travel is also limited. Once developed through this grant program, transportation planners will use this data to better understand and prepare for transportation needs.
How will the data be used?
TTD and TRPA will use the data to gain a better understanding of traffic movement into and through the Lake Tahoe Basin by season and time of day. This information will be used to identify transportation needs and potential solutions to meet the unique travel demands of the region. Information will be made available to the public though TRPA’s Tahoe Open Data web portal.
Public Draft Tahoe Basin Hazard Mitigation Plan Available for Comments
The Tahoe Transportation District and Tahoe Resource Conservation District have developed a Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). An HMP is required by a federal law, known as the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000), to receive certain types of FEMA grant funding.
The planning process took one year to complete. The plan addresses climate change, dam failure, drought, earthquake, flood, landslide, wildfire, and winter storm. For each hazard identified, short- and long-term strategies were developed to reduce or eliminate the hazard impact on each district. Strategies were developed using FEMA success stories and best management practices, FEMA job aids, local and regional plans and reports, and input from planning committee members and sustainability and transportation practitioners.
The plan was organized to follow FEMA’s Local Mitigation Plan Regulation Checklist, which demonstrates how hazard mitigation plans meet the DMA 2000 regulations. A copy of the Regulation Checklist can be found here: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_local-mitigation-planning-handbook_052023.pdf
The draft plan is available for review and comment until Monday, October 16. Click here to view the HMP.
Tahoe Basin Hazard Mitigation Plan Notification
The Tahoe Transportation District and Tahoe Resource Conservation District, in coordination with regional partners, are developing a Hazard Mitigation Plan. The purpose of this plan is to profile the natural and human-caused hazards in our area, determine the impacts of those hazards on our multi-modal transportation system and land conservation efforts, and develop strategies to mitigate future disasters.
The planning process, a requirement of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will include a public review period, expected to occur this winter. Once approved by FEMA and adopted by both agencies, Tahoe Transportation District and Tahoe Resource Conservation District will be eligible for certain types of federal funding to help create a more disaster resilient Lake Tahoe Basin. Because this plan is funded through the California Office of Emergency Services, certain requirements in the plan will only address the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin. It is our hope that future updates of the plan will include the Nevada side of our community. In the meantime, to learn more about hazard mitigation, please visit: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/hazard-mitigation-planning