By Kathryn Reed

Finding ways to improve the South Shore cycling scene is not a difficult endeavor.

The advisory committee to the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Facilities Joint Powers Authority recently outlined its goals for this summer through 2019.

Snow removal of bike trails expects to be an ongoing project. Cyclists and pedestrians are regularly using these thoroughfares in the winter. It was only in the past couple years that they have been plowed for winter use.

David Reichel, the committee member who gave the report to the board last month, stressed the need for the JPA and city to pursue the connection at Sierra Boulevard and Highway 50 to the bike trail behind Scusa and Fitness Evolution. This might be doable when the health club seeks a permit to improve its parking lot.

“It’s a valuable connection,” Reichel said.

An easement would be needed to make this happen.

The money the JPA has to spend comes from Measure S/R that was passed by South Shore voters on the California side. South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County and Tahoe Paradise Resort Improvement District representatives make up the JPA board.

While the JPA board won’t allocate funds until its July meeting, the following is where the volunteer committee recommends the dollars be spent this year:

·      $25,000 – Improve surface of boardwalk in front of Lake Tahoe Golf Course

·      $10,000 – 2017-18 winter snow removal in the city

·      $20,000 – 2017-18 winter snow removal in El Dorado County

·      $10,000 – Class 1 bike trail maintenance.

For 2018, the committee wants snow removal to continue. The bulk of the funds — $50,000 – would go toward the match for the Al Tahoe, Johnson boulevards, Highway 50 project that should be constructed that year.

The following year, snow removal is projected to continue. Money for ongoing maintenance of Class 1 trails is also recommended.

Not all recommendations from the committee cost substantive dollars. Those include:

·      Installing a yellow center line on the Linear Park bike path. That should happen this summer. The city, though, says the path cannot be widened.

·      Adding green paint to the Class 3 street crossing at Eloise, Dunlap and Fifth streets.

·      Continue putting in signs to help cyclists. More are expected to be installed this summer.