We realize that traffic throughout North Lake Tahoe is a problem – especially during big winters like this one when snow conditions are amazing (and on repeat!). Although the traffic situation isn’t new, it has increased in recent years. Since the last census, Reno’s population has increased 42% and Sacramento’s has increased 31%, meaning more people are within driving range of North Lake Tahoe. The Outdoor Industry Association reported last fall that outdoor participation (since the pandemic began) increased by 26%, and a regional transportation study indicated fewer people are carpooling these days as there is a reported 50% decrease in the number of passengers in cars heading into resort parking lots.
We want to be part of the solution, and we hope that you do, too. After all, we’re more effective when we work together. It’s up to all of us – our community, our guests, and our employees – to make use of the services that are already available to help alleviate traffic congestion until longer-term solutions are implemented.
THIS IS HOW WE GET UPDATES TO YOU
So that you can make informed decisions, we communicate in advance and in real-time about parking status:
- We update changeable electronic message boards in real-time in multiple locations on SR-89 (between Truckee and Tahoe City).
- We partner with Truckee Tahoe Radio 101.5 FM to provide live updates to those driving on SR-89 who may not have cell phone reception.
- We use push notifications through the Palisades Tahoe app to let those in North Lake Tahoe know the status of parking availability.
- Our app has a “parking status” page that shows parking availability at all of our parking lots.
- Parking status updates are shared in real-time on Twitter (@palisadesops).
- Status updates are also shared in real-time with regional partners including Caltrans, CHP, Placer County, etc. so they can help spread the word through their channels.
- We communicate with our guests ahead of busy weekends and holidays with messaging via email and pre-weekend blogs on our website and social media.
OUR EFFORTS IN ACTION
These are some of the strategies we regularly implement to aid traffic management:
- We create a third lane on Olympic Valley Road on weekends and days with anticipated heavy skier visits.
- Extended merge patterns at egress points help keep traffic flowing out of the main lots.
- We work with Caltrans to coordinate traffic lights to keep cars moving and give priority to the congested direction of travel based on the time of day.
- Contract with CHP to manage traffic on SR-89 and at the I-80/SR-89 junction in Truckee.
- Active traffic control flaggers are used to keep traffic flowing.
- We try to spread out arrival and departure times with apres ski programs such as live music, disco tubing, fireworks, extended hours of lift operations, etc.
- We piloted the service that became Mountaineer and spurred the creation of TART Connect.
- Provide and prioritize close parking for those who carpool with 3 or more per car.
- Encourage our employees to carpool with cash incentives.
- Restarted the Sherwood Shuttle to give resort guests coming from the West Shore the ability to leave their car at home and access Palisades Tahoe from the Sherwood chairlift via TART Connect and a free shuttle from the Sunnyside Marina.
- When TART service is canceled or is not sufficient, we run our buses for early morning pick-up on the North Shore and do return runs. This helps our employees who do not have vehicles get to work, helps keep some employee cars off roads and out of our parking lots, and makes use of our bus resources outside their normal public operating hours.
HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO
Plan ahead and whenever possible:
- Always try to carpool with 3 or more per car. Skiing and riding is more fun with friends anyway, right?! And, you get premiere parking in our main POW parking lot, just North of The Village at Palisades Tahoe.
- Take Mountaineer if you’re in Olympic Valley or Alpine Meadows. Service is offered daily. On-demand service from your door right to the slopes and anywhere else you want to go within Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows with expanded service hours this season and transport between the valleys during evening hours. Download the app and ride for FREE!
- Leave your car at home and use TART Connect and the Sherwood Shuttle if you’re coming from the West Shore on weekends. It’s FREE!
- Download the Palisades Tahoe app and enable notifications to receive real-time resort info and parking status, follow us on Twitter @palisadesops and listen to 101.5 Truckee Tahoe Radio to stay updated on parking status.
- Arrive before 8 a.m. or after 1 p.m. on weekends, holidays or after significant storms.
- Ride the bus! Tahoe Area Regional Transit (TART) routes are offered daily. Download the app and ride. It’s FREE!
- Make plans to ski or ride mid-week, non-holiday.
- When you’re notified that our parking is full, catch a ride on public transportation or find another winter activity to participate in that day instead of sitting in your car in traffic.
WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY
Because traffic is a region-wide issue, we’re committed to continuously collaborating with local and regional agencies on short, medium, and long-term solutions to this decades-old issue. Our partners include:
- Caltrans
- CHP
- Placer County
- Town of Truckee
- Truckee-North Tahoe Transportation Management Association
These agencies have said they plan to evaluate a reversible third lane for buses on SR-89, the possibility of road widening, and increased passenger rail service between Sacramento and Reno.
In addition, we have a seat on the Truckee-North Tahoe Transportation Management Association Board of Directors and provide annual funding for transportation options that are free to the rider:
- TART
- TART Connect
- Mountaineer (Alpine Meadows and Olympic Valley)
- Park & Ride
