Lake Tahoe basin will try for new federal transportation funds

Creation of the Metropolitan Planning Organization will allow Lake Tahoe to compete with other major metropolitan areas for federal financing of local transportation projects.

The commission approved the MPO Thursday after several commissioners expressed concern the MPO would result in additional bureaucracy. They also said they fear the special status approved by Congress this year could take money away from other transportation projects in the county.

"Not only are we not driving the bus, we don't know what seat we have on it," Commissioner Kelly Kite said Thursday.

Critics also objected to the proposed formation of a new Tahoe Transportation Commission, which would serve to prioritize transportation projects surrounding Lake Tahoe.

"We don't know what to expect," Commissioner Jacques Etchegoyhen said. "I feel a little bit like it's jumping off a cliff."

Jim Baetge, executive director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, said is a key backer of the new MPO.

Additional federal money is needed to tackle $900 million in capital projects the agency has identified as necessary to protect Tahoe's environment over the next decade, he said.

"It's certainly a plus," Baetge said. "Going with an MPO will create more dollars for ... the basin."

Baetge said Tahoe is at a critical point where planning must be turned into on-the-ground projects.

Otherwise, "we're going to be sitting here like we did the last 15 years," Baetge said.

"'Now is the time to leap."

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