Tahoe Construction Season Ends With Great Progress on East Shore Trail and State Route 28 Corridor Improvements
Cyclists travel along the Tahoe East Shore Trail, a shared-use path overlooking Lake Tahoe on the lake’s East Shore. Photo by: Brandon Huttenlocher / Design Workshop, Inc.
Slider image credit: Brandon Huttenlocher / Design Workshop, Inc.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – As the summer construction season winds down, the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) today announced progress updates for improvements along Tahoe’s East Shore. This project includes extending the iconic East Shore Trail and providing off-highway parking options to relocate unsafe roadside parking along the Nevada State Route 28 (SR 28) Scenic Byway south of Incline Village, Nev.
SR 28 is a narrow two-lane road that provides access to some of Lake Tahoe’s most desired public lands along the East Shore of Lake Tahoe. With limited formal parking areas or trail connections, hundreds of vehicles park along the corridor’s steep road shoulders on peak summer days, creating major safety hazards and environmental impacts to Lake Tahoe. Public and private investments in the SR 28 corridor are improving safety, expanding transportation options, improving lake clarity, and enhancing the recreation experience for residents and visitors.
“This season, we’ve made major progress on several pieces of the SR 28 corridor improvements, with the goal of reducing congestion, enhancing safety, improving lake clarity, and supporting sustainable access to Lake Tahoe,” said Jim Marino, Executive Director of the Tahoe Transportation District. “These upgrades are necessary steps on the path to constructing new sections of the East Shore Trail.”
TTD is working with numerous partners, including the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Nevada Department of Transportation, Tahoe Fund, Nevada Division of State Lands, Nevada State Parks, and local jurisdictions to build upon many recent transportation improvements along SR 28. In addition to safety upgrades, these coordinated efforts will replace roadside parking spaces, help prevent water quality impacts from compacted road shoulders, and encourage the use of transit, biking, and other alternative transportation options along SR 28.
- North Parking – 38 new spaces have been added immediately north of the existing 90-space paid parking area at the East Shore Trailhead in Incline Village. Construction is underway on a new public transit shelter on SR 28 just north of Lakeshore Drive for southbound transit passengers. Additionally, environmental restoration is now complete at Rocky Point, an eroded shoulder area along the west side of SR 28. The project helps protect the clarity of Lake Tahoe by restoring and stabilizing the area.
- Chimney Beach – There are now 130 parking spaces at the Chimney Beach Trailhead, with a new transit stop for the East Shore Express and a lighted crosswalk to guide pedestrians safely across the highway. Improvements include reduction in roadside parking capacity, bear boxes for trash, and public restrooms.
- Secret Harbor – The Secret Harbor Trailhead currently has approximately 30 spaces, but is undergoing an expansion to 120 spaces with additional restrooms, a transit stop, a vista point, and stormwater improvements to protect the Lake. This project is currently in design, with the final design expected in early 2027.
- Spooner Mobility Hub and Aquatic Invasive Species Boat Inspection Station – Significant progress was made this season on a new, dedicated transit hub, park-and-ride, and permanent watercraft inspection station. Site preparation, water quality infrastructure, and paving for the 250-space parking area was completed this season. Construction will continue next season on the restrooms, transit shelter, boat inspection facility, and crosswalk to Spooner Lake State Park.
- East Shore Trail Extension – Design is underway for the next section of the East Shore Trail. The existing three-mile section of path from Incline Village to Sand Harbor State Park is providing thousands of people safer access to the East Shore every year. Next up is a nearly two-mile segment of shared-use path from Sand Harbor towards Chimney Beach, which will further connect the corridor, add emergency pullouts, reduce environmental impacts, and provide scenic vistas.
- Seasonal Paid Parking – This summer, seasonal paid parking began at Chimney Beach and Secret Harbor parking areas. All revenues are returned to the corridor to pay for operations and maintenance. In addition, parking enforcement and removal of roadside parking spaces helped to improve safety along the SR 28 corridor.
To make it easier for the public to explore the East Shore Trail and stay up to date on the many improvements underway, the Tahoe Fund worked with Design Workshop to create a new StoryMap. This interactive, online resource guides the public through the experience of visiting the East Shore Trail and provides key information about the many improvements underway along the corridor. Check out the StoryMap here.
“The first few miles of the East Shore Trail created tremendous safety and water quality improvements, in addition to being one of the most beloved recreational experiences in Lake Tahoe,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “We know the community is just as excited as we are about the next sections of the trail, and hope that this new StoryMap will make it easy for people to explore what’s happening and see how all of these improvements fit together to help transform the East Shore.”
The Tahoe Fund is offering customized trout plaques for purchase and the opportunity to add a name to the East Shore Trail Donor Wall. Funds raised directly support the next phase of the trail. Scenic vista points will also be available for purchase. Join the waiting list by emailing [email protected].
To sign up for SR 28 project updates direct to your inbox, please email: [email protected].
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About the Tahoe Fund
The Tahoe Fund is a nonprofit founded in 2010 to support environmental improvement projects that reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, improve the health of the lake, and make it easier to get around, enjoy, and take care of Lake Tahoe. Through the generous support of its donors, the organization has leveraged $35 million in private funds to secure more than $220 million in public funds for over 250 environmental projects. Learn more at www.tahoefund.org.
About Tahoe Transportation District
The Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) is a bi-state agency responsible for the management and implementation of safe, environmentally sound, multi-modal transportation projects and programs in the Lake Tahoe Region, including transit operations and parking. TTD leads multi-jurisdictional infrastructure projects to make travel safer, improve access to recreation, and reduce traffic congestion and private car use. TTD focuses on transit’s pivotal role in improving air and water quality because more than 70 percent of the pollutants impacting Lake Tahoe’s clarity come from transportation system and built environment run-off. TTD has delivered numerous projects to help reduce environmental impacts and address the high demand residents and visitors place on the region’s transportation infrastructure, including transit solutions, roadway and safety enhancements, water quality improvements, off-highway parking, and pedestrian/cyclist paths. For more information, please visit TahoeTransportation.org.
About the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program
Since 1997, the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) has been the driving force behind the basin’s environmental restoration. From restoring meadows to improving bike and pedestrian paths, the EIP drives investments in projects that protect water quality, reduce wildfire risk, restore ecosystems, and support sustainable recreation. Our network of more than 80 partners collaborates to solve Lake Tahoe’s most significant environmental challenges. With the support of federal, state, regional, and local agencies, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, scientists, and the private sector, the EIP is one of the most successful large-scale conservation programs in the nation. Learn more at RestoreTahoe.org.
Media Contacts:
Jess Weaver, JVP Communications
[email protected] or (530) 448-6981
Tiara Wasner, Tahoe Transportation District
[email protected] or (775) 589-5504
Eric Cachinero, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
[email protected] or (775) 589-5252
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