Summer Traffic in South Lake Tahoe
If you think moving to Tahoe will help you escape big city traffic — you might want to think again. Weekends throughout the summer months can be especially busy.
Difficult to Get From Point A to Point B
South Lake Tahoe has lots of visitors, commuters, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. In addition to all that, there is usually some form of construction going on. All this can make it nearly impossible to quickly move from point A to point B in a safe and timely manner. With the increased activity during the summer, pedestrian accidents in and around the South Lake Tahoe area are bound to rise.
Officials Thinking of Adding Additional Crosswalks
Due to the influx of people during the summer months, the Truckee North Tahoe Transportation Association is considering if it might be appropriate to begin adding a crosswalk, or two, along Highway 89 in Sunnyside, which is located on the West Shore of Tahoe.
Placer County’s Director of Engineering for the City of South Lake Tahoe, Peter Kraatz, discussed the possibility in the Transportation Management Association’s monthly board meeting that was held in the Granlibakken Resort on August 4, 2016.
Talking With Caltrans Regarding Crosswalk Installation
Kraatz indicated the crosswalk would be accompanied by lights and signs if it were to be constructed. He also said that Placer County has been communicating and working together with Caltrans on a proposed crosswalk or two. It is currently in the discussion stages — with that, potential time frame for construction and the cost associated with such crosswalks are currently unknown.
Sunnyside Especially Busy
One of the board members at the meeting said he has seen for himself how busy it gets in Sunnyside. He suggested that perhaps a study should be performed in the area.
One proposed location for a crosswalk is in the area of Highway 89 near the West Shore Market and Fire Sign Café.
Homewood Mountain Resort
Kraatz also said a crosswalk is needed near Homewood Mountain Resort. He believes the responsibility for that should be in the ski area.
Another board member representing Truckee said crosswalks don’t automatically make things safer. He went on to state that there are a lot of competing studies on the subject.
It’s important to note that just because the issue is being discussed does not necessarily mean it’s going to happen.
Pedestrian Safety and South Lake Tahoe Summer Traffic
While board members acknowledged the need to help ensure pedestrian safety in Sunnyside, they are only in the initial discussion stage. Right now, it is unclear if adding crosswalks would be an appropriate solution.
While brainstorming their options, an attendee mentioned an idea to install a temporary island that could be disassembled at the conclusion of the busy summer months.
Kraatz indicated he would talk with Caltrans about the crosswalk. He will have more information ahead of the next board meeting, scheduled for September 1, 2016, at 8:00 a.m. at Granlibakken.
South Lake Tahoe Car Accident and Personal Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a South Lake Tahoe auto accident attorney. If you or someone you care about has been seriously injured in a South Lake Tahoe accident due to another person’s negligence, give me a call today at (800) 404-5400 or (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly advice. When you call, we will go over the details of your personal injury and if I think you have a good case and we are a good fit for one another, I will pay for you to come visit me at my Sacramento law office. I will pay for your overnight lodging so that you don’t have to be bothered by the same travel to Sacramento and back.
I have been helping injured residents of South Lake Tahoe with their personal injury and wrongful death cases since 1982.
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Image Attribution: Rick Cooper (https://www.flickr.com/photos/randa/5784121474) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons