Top officials to address Tahoe transportation

Friday, July 18, 1997 | 10:24 a.m.

Traffic congestion, access to Lake Tahoe and the impact of transportation on Lake Tahoe's tourism economy and fragile environment will lead the list of topics to be tackled in a series of panel discussions.

Hosted by Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater, Saturday's workshop is the third and final Cabinet fact-finding event preceding the July 25-26 Lake Tahoe Presidential and Vice Presidential Forum.

Co-hosting the transit workshop will be Nevada's two U.S. senators, Harry Reid and Richard Bryan.

Also tentatively scheduled to attend is U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, and the directors of both California and Nevada's departments of transportation - James van Loben Sels of California and Tom Stephens of Nevada.

Others expected to attend include Rep. James Gibbons of Nevada and Rep. Vic Fazio of California.

Jim Baetge, executive director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, said he hopes the attention given to Tahoe transportation issues Saturday will be translated into greater national and state support for transit projects in the basin.

"If there wasn't a willingness on their part to deal with Tahoe issues, I doubt there would be the high caliber of people participating in the event," Baetge said. "I fully expect good results from the workshop, not just at the federal level, but the state level as well."

Baetge added that a greater familiarity with Lake Tahoe's transit needs should make a difference come budget time.

"Whether you have new dollars or existing dollars, putting a focus on Lake Tahoe at this event will affect everybody's budget decisions," Baetge said.

Secretary Slater will deliver the workshop's keynote speech, which will be followed with an overview of Tahoe Basin transportation successes by Steve Teshara, co-chair of the Tahoe Transportation and Water Quality Coalition.

Those attending will then be divided into groups to further discuss access to the Tahoe Basin, alternatives to the automobile, recreational transportation such as bicycle and pedestrian uses, and the impact of transit on the environment.