Tahoe Truckee Region Transportation Digest

Farmland is being rezoned for industrial use, and massive warehouses are being built on spec near communities like Buttonwillow and Shafter, so goods coming through the Southern California ports can be shipped quickly throughout the western United States.

A group of protesters sat down with interlocked arms on the 110 Freeway near downtown LA on Dec. 13, halting southbound traffic for more than an hour. Multiple people were arrested according to the CHP.

Higher-income workers are more likely to work from home, analysis of recent census data shows. Lower-income workers can face long and solitary commutes to get to work.

Private company Brightline secured a $3 billion grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation toward a 218-mile high-speed rail line from Rancho Cucamonga to Las Vegas. The line would allow people to make the trip to Sin City in a little over two hours.

An Alameda County judge ruled on Nov. 22 that the city of Oakland thwarted a proposed coal export terminal. The judge will rule if the developer who sued is entitled to $159 million in damages or moving forward with the project.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles changed its voter registration process in 2019 to put a party selection dropdown on the same page. Since then, the number of people registering as Republicans or Democrats has jumped close to 20 points.

The Orange County Transportation Authority announced that work has been completed for express lanes along 16 miles of Interstate 405. The lanes, which were part of a $2.16 billion improvement project, span from Costa Mesa to the Los Angeles County line.

A new study by Forbes shows that four cities in the Golden State—Los Angeles, Fresno, San Diego and Sacramento—are among the 21 worst cities in the United States for holiday travel. Forbes looked at a variety of factors including car accidents, hotel prices and air travel.

Interstate 10 in Los Angeles will reopen Nov. 21, following a fire on Nov. 11. It had previously been feared the freeway would be closed much longer.

China modeled some of its climate programs on policies first adopted by California. Now, California depends on the world’s most populous country for essential materials in its electric vehicle ambitions.

Hydrogen fueling stations will get 15 percent of funds in a state program — even though Californians own only about 12,000 hydrogen cars. The funds come from fees paid by drivers.

As the popularity of electric bikes continues to skyrocket, the California Highway Patrol is launching an online e-bike safety and training program to help commuters and recreational cyclists ride safely.

With only 12,000 hydrogen cars on the road, and just two models for sale, California lawmakers are debating how much state money should support them.

The California Transportation Commission awarded the Nevada County Transportation Commission $14.6 million of Trade Corridor Enhancement Program funding for southbound improvements on the State Route 49 corridor between the McKnight Way Interchange and La Barr Meadows Road.

The event is the culmination of years of planning and work to build an approximately 17-mile trail from Nevada’s capital city to the Tahoe Rim Trail, which connects to the Pacific Crest Trail.

U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) announced that the Tahoe Transportation District will receive $3.4 million to fund its Clean Transit Initiative.

The town launched TART Connect last summer as a pilot program. After a successful summer, the Truckee Town Council approved an extension to the program, meaning TART Connect will continue operating through June 30, 2024.

The Quality Automotive Servicing van will visit you at any location in the servicing area that has a flat driveway or surface to complete the mobile service.

BCycle, an industry leader in electric bike share operations and equipment used in communities around the country, is thrilled to bring bike share to Truckee.

The South Lake Tahoe City Council unanimously voted to oppose the proposed speed increases on U.S. Highway 50 and State Route 89.

Placer County's commitment to alternative modes of transportation got a boost following two board approvals that authorized the use of Transient Occupancy Tax.

City Council approved the Heavenly Neighborhood Parking and Traffic Management Plan, which will focus on mitigating traffic caused by Heavenly Mountain Resort.

The Town of Truckee Town Council meeting will review a proposal to use funds generated by SB 1 for both the Railyard Mobility Hub Project and the West River Street Streetscape Improvement Project.

Placer County officially launched its new Tahoe-specific website, where residents and visitors alike can access county information, resources and programs all in one place.

The Placer County Board of Supervisors approved a $511,838 contract with Wood Rodgers Inc. to create a strategic implementation and phasing plan to advance implementation along state routes 89 and 267, both of which connect Interstate 80 to North Lake Tahoe.

California's public transit agencies are seeking $5 billion over five years to keep buses and trains running, but time is running out in the budget process at the state Capitol. To address criticism, they submitted a new accountability plan.

The town of Truckee has been awarded $4.4 million to meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by providing a new transit center, on-demand transit technology, and making the transition to a zero-emissions transit fleet.

The South Lake Tahoe City Council heard multiple presentations, including an update on roadwork and an annual report from the department of public works.

When El Dorado County closed the Rubicon Trail due to the atmospheric river storms, some users asked why. Resulting discussion led to a resolution that any closure should be for limited reasons and at the direction of the county’s transportation director.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency has awarded $11.1 million to seven critical transportation projects across the Tahoe Region.

As the industry invests $40 billion in new US electric car plants, the rapid transformation raises labor and supply chain issues. Automaker Ford says, “we’re all in.”

Asphalt pavement formulated with recycled plastic has successfully survived heavy truck traffic and the atmospheric rivers of the winter of 2022-23 after a section of California State Route 99 flooded in January.