Connecting Tahoe through Workforce Housing
September 21, 2024 | Member Submitted
Originally published by Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, 9/20/2024, Written by Julie Regan
More than a decade ago, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) needed to bring the basin together to gain consensus on environmental priorities and the sustainability of our communities. Through the Regional Plan Update, thousands of community members collaborated on a unified vision for the future of Lake Tahoe. Major strides in environmental improvement have been achieved from all sectors since.
Today, there is region-wide consensus that housing and transportation are among the greatest issues of our time. The severe decline of affordable housing options in the Lake Tahoe Region is affecting environmental quality and the vibrancy of our communities. Safe, thriving communities help provide the infrastructure, workforce, and investment needed to ensure Lake Tahoe’s built environment supports a sustainable natural environment. A common topic in the public discourse around housing is that transportation solutions are integral to good housing solutions.
It is estimated that more than 40 percent of Tahoe’s workers commute from outside the basin. A Placer County study estimated the average worker living outside the Tahoe/Eastern Placer area travels nearly 40 miles each way for work, or roughly 80 miles daily. The result is more harmful vehicle emissions in the basin, and on peak days Tahoe’s two-lane roads are often congested with commuters, residents, and visitors alike which can impede transit and create unsafe conditions for cyclists and walkers. Meanwhile, workers and families who would rather live in the basin aren’t able to support local businesses and enjoy the quality of life that many take for granted.
Photo Credit: TRPA