Lake Tahoe Transportation Equity Study
This study aims to address transportation equity by identifying the needs, concerns, and vulnerabilities of Tahoe's residents and visitors.
View the final Transportation Equity Study:
Lea el estudio de equidad en el transporte
We acknowledge DaɁaw (Lake Tahoe) is the homeland of the waší∙šiw (Washoe people – the people from here). The waší∙šiw are the aboriginal stewards of the land in and around the Lake Tahoe Basin since the beginning of time and as a sovereign nation the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, as it is known today, continues to advocate for the protection and preservation of waší∙šiw ɁítdeɁ (the Washoe peoples homelands).
Lake Tahoe Land Acknowledgement for the Washoe Tribe
TRPA's Transportation Equity Study is a recommendation from the 2020 Linking Tahoe: Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). Building on the work completed in the RTP, analysis conducted for the Transportation Equity Study will ensure the programs, policies, and activities proposed in the 2020 RTP do not disproportionately and adversely affect individuals with a disability, minority populations, or low-income residents, and that the transportation benefits and burdens are equitably distributed.
Priority Communities
- Persons without private transportation (zero vehicle households): Lack of a personal vehicle is a significant factor for transit need. In 2022, 80 percent of Tahoe transit riders did not have access to a personal vehicle.
- Seniors (individuals 65 years and older): Elderly individuals may choose not to drive or can no longer drive due to age.
- Persons living below the poverty line: Purchasing and maintaining a personal vehicle might be difficult for households with limited income.
- Individuals with a disability: Disability status may impact an individual's ability to live independently, including driving a personal vehicle.
- Youth (individuals under 18 years old): Most people under 18 do not drive and even those with driver's licenses often do not have the means to purchase or maintain a personal vehicle.
- BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color): People of color are more likely to live in densely populated areas, are less likely to have access to a car, and are more likely to bike, walk, and use public transportation to commute to work.
Transportation Barriers
- Availability: Understanding what transportation services are and aren't available to people living and working at Lake Tahoe.
- Accessibility: Evaluating walkability, terrain, and ADA accessibility of different transportation options.
- Cost or affordability: Understanding how transportation costs may limit mobility for certain populations.
- Time/distance spent travelling: Assessing travel distances and times to goods, services, and critical amenities like grocery stores and healthcare providers.
- Adequacy of transportation conditions: Evaluating service and safety conditions of different travel modes (i.e. Are sidewalks adequately plowed in the winter? Are there enough crosswalks to safely and efficiently cross the street?).
- Emergency preparedness and resiliency: Evaluating the resiliency of the transportation network in emergency situations (i.e. severe winter storms, or wildfire evacuations), and ensuring transportation options are available for people without private transportation.
Community Demographics
Demographic data were used to understand where transportation disadvantaged communities live within the Tahoe Basin. The equity analysis in the next section utilized demographic data and network analysis to evaluate transportation accessibility to critical services.
Demographics
Equity Analysis
The following maps show spatial correlations between transportation disadvantaged communities and lack of access to fresh food, healthcare, and recreation. These communities often overlap with the community priority zones identified in the 2020 RTP.
Fresh Food Access
Access to healthy and affordable food is a fundamental right. Access is limited when residents live more than one mile away from grocery stores and don't have access to a car.
Fresh Food Access without a Personal Vehicle
People who do not have access to a personal vehicle rely on walking, biking, or taking public transit to the grocery store for food. People face greater travel burdens and constraints the further they are away from supermarkets.
Healthcare Access
Close and convenient access to healthcare services often dictates the level and frequency of care many residents receive.
Medicare/Medi-Cal Access
Healthcare providers that accept Medicare or Medi-Cal are limited. Residents who rely on Medicare services are often reimbursed for travel only up to a certain mileage without flexibility.
Medicare/Medi-Cal Access for Seniors (65+)
Limited availability of Medicare providers greatly impacts Tahoe's residents, especially those who depend on regular care, such as seniors.
Medicare/Medi-Cal Access for People with Disabilties
Individuals living with disabilities are also heavily impacted by the absence of Medicare providers around the Basin. Mobility challenges are exacerbated by the need to travel greater distances to care.
Public Recreation Access
Many Tahoe residents choose to live at Lake Tahoe to have access to recreation at the lake. Access to public recreation is a health benefit and one our Region's greatest amenities. However, 44 percent of the Lake Tahoe shoreline is privately owned, which limits the number of accessible public beaches. Additionally, only 25 of 40 public beaches are free to enter in a car.
Public Recreation Access for People Living in Poverty
Low-income residents trying to enjoy a day at the beach might need to travel greater distances to access the lake for free, creating undue burdens on an already burdened population.
Contact us:
Kira Richardson (she/her)
Senior Transportation Planner
775-589-5236 | krichardson@trpa.gov
