South Lake Tahoe awarded $3 million grants to improve air quality
The city of South Lake Tahoe will receive $3 million through four federal grants that are designed to improve air quality and help reduce traffic congestion, officials announced Tuesday.
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, in its role as Tahoe Metropolitan Planning Organization informed the city of South Lake Tahoe of the grant awards, which will be used lessen the amount of particulate matter in the air and traffic impact erosion that winds up in the lake.
“Through our team’s hard work we are receiving $3 million in CMAQ funds to further alternative transportation projects and critical vehicle replacements that will attain clean air status," said Jim Marino, City of South Lake Tahoe Assistant Director, Department of Public Works. "This is a big win for South Lake Tahoe. We truly want to thank the TMPO for their support.”
The grants are: $1.8 million for the Sierra Boulevard Complete Street Project, design, and construction
— $510,000 for construction of the Tahoe Valley Greenbelt Project
— $390,000 to replace a sander vehicle
— $200,000 for the Lake Tahoe Boulevard Bike Trail, specifically for design and engineering
The purpose of the CMAQ Program is to fund transportation projects or programs that will contribute to attainment or maintenance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter.
All projects and programs eligible for CMAQ funds must come from a conforming regional transportation plan and a Federal Transportation Improvement Program. Funds are distributed from the federal level to Caltrans then on to the MPO’s for project allocation.
The City would like to recognize the staff at the TMPO for their hard work in securing increased funds for the Lake Tahoe Basin for purposes of Air Quality enhancement. Without the hard work of the TMPO, the projects identified above would not be moving forward.