KINGS BEACH, CA (MPG) - The Placer County Board of Supervisors authorized funding Tuesday for a comprehensive study and update of the Truckee Tahoe Area Regional Transportation system to evaluate all transit operations in North Lake Tahoe.

With the approval, the Director of Public Works plans to initiate a contract with WSP USA Inc. of San Francisco for $199,716, with possible amendments up to $19,972.

The TART systems plan was last updated in 2016. The new study will evaluate all transit operations, costs, revenues and new services or projects in the region. The study and plan will be completed in partnership with the Washoe County Regional Transportation Committee through the interlocal operating agreement with Placer County.

The consultant will begin a current system evaluation in September and continue through October of this year.  County staff will simultaneously begin community outreach efforts to gather feedback on preferred transit routes, scheduling and more. A technical advisory committee will also be formed this fall to make plan recommendations based on the study and suggestions for future operational plans. A final systems update is anticipated to come back to the board for approval in the summer of 2025.

“This analysis will look at our routing, operating hours, seasonal service fluctuations and efficiencies between TART’s fixed routes, para-transit, as well as our micro-transit service,” said Public Works Manager Jaime Wright. “Staffing levels also continue to be a challenge for us here, so this study will analyze and recommend adjustments to compensation, policy and more to help us increase staff retention and entice more drivers to join us.”

Following adoption of the last systems plan, Placer County implemented many notable improvements for regional transportation, including:

Continued replacement of the aging fleet

TART peak-season free hourly night service

TART non-peak season free hourly night service

Extended operating hours and frequency to/from area resorts in the peak winter season

Extended operating hours during peak summer season

Increased frequency to area resorts in the peak winter season

TART Free to the rider bus service

Implementation of TART Connect micro-transit service

The update will be incorporated as part of the Regional Transportation Plan, which addresses the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s interest in leveraging land use and transportation. The RTP guides project and program design and implementation through goals, policies and projects linked to foreseeable revenues.

Learn more about TART, TART Connect and other North Lake Tahoe transportation operations tahoetruckeetransit.com.