Plans for a future regional service between the Reno/Sparks area and Incline Village and Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe through a collaborative partnership have been announced by the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Washoe County.
The RTC is currently developing a pilot transit project that will allow people in the Reno/Sparks area to book a public transit trip on a RTC FlexRIDE vehicle 24 hours prior to their trip using an app. More people from the Truckee Meadows will be able to enjoy Lake Tahoe during the summer months starting in 2021.
Project development is now underway in partnership with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit (TART) and the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD). The service is being developed using the FlexRIDE model the RTC began operating in November 2019 with current service operating in the Sparks and North Valleys communities, and new service coming this fall to the Spanish Springs and Somersett/Verdi areas.
The new transit project will improve access between communities, cut down on traffic congestion, parking hassles and decrease emissions, helping to improve the region’s air quality. Additionally, this will create connections to TART and TTD service in the Lake Tahoe Basin to the Reno/Sparks area.
“We are looking forward to providing residents in the Truckee Meadows a new transportation choice and regional connectivity to be able to visit and enjoy Lake Tahoe during the summer months,” said Bill Thomas, RTC executive director. “We thank the TRPA and all the partners working together with the RTC to bring this pilot transit project to fruition.”
