SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
Project Includes National Forest System Lands
South Lake Tahoe, Calif.— The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) invites the public to review and comment on plans for developing a bike path that would connect the casino core on Lake Tahoe’s South Shore to Roundhill Pines, the first stage of a bike path that would eventually extend to the state line at Crystal Bay, Nevada.
The South Demonstration Project, proposed by Douglas County, would begin on Lake Parkway at the Nevada/California border and end approximately 0.3 miles north of the entrance to Round Hill Pines Beach. The proposed shared-use path would be located entirely on the west side of U.S. 50 and would be approximately 3.2 miles in length. With a few exceptions, the proposed shared-use path would generally consist of a 10-foot-wide, paved path with 2-foot-wide shoulders on both sides. Douglas County would be responsible for project construction and for the costs associated with the long-term management, operation, and maintenance of the proposed South Demonstration Project. The project requires the use of 2.2 miles of Forest Service lands, and therefore requires permits from both the Forest Service and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA).
The two agencies have prepared a joint Draft Environmental Assessment analyzing three alternatives: the no-action alternative and two action alternatives. The two action alternatives differ in the routing of the middle segment of the trail — Alternative A generally would extend parallel to and west of U.S. 50 for the majority of this segment. Alternative B would distance path users from U.S. 50 and cross Rabe Meadow at a mid-meadow location. Alternative B would merge with the Lam Watah Trail for a distance of approximately 1,200 linear feet.
The existing parking area at the northwest corner of the Kahle Drive/U.S. 50 intersection on NFS lands would be expanded to accommodate additional use of the Rabe Meadow area associated with the shared-use path. This parking lot would be expanded to approximately 12,000 square feet and would accommodate 14 additional parking spaces. An additional kiosk, two picnic tables, bicycle racks, a bear-proof garbage can, and an up to six-stall restroom building would also be added to the expanded lot.
Comments on the proposal are due by the close of business on Monday, February 14, 2011, to Garrett Villanueva, Assistant Forest Engineer, U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150-4500. For more information on the proposal, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/StatelineBikeway
