Title
Department of Transportation recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 173-2025 establishing a weight restriction on Lake Tahoe Boulevard and North Upper Truckee Road.
(District 5)
FUNDING: Road Fund. (100%)
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Department of Transportation, Maintenance and Operations Division (Transportation) reviewed sections of Lake Tahoe Boulevard, North Upper Truckee Road, and Sawmill Road for weight restriction purposes, which was initially brought to the Traffic Advisory Committee on April 17, 2024, to increase public safety for a variety of reasons. The proposed new restrictions would facilitate the orderly movement of traffic during snow removal events, improve snow removal operations, reduce the potential for damaging two (2) shallow drainpipes crossing under the roads, and prevent large commercial vehicles from avoiding the agricultural check station and/or chain control checkpoints.
During the review process, it was found that navigation apps have increasingly routed US Highway 50 through traffic, including large commercial vehicles, onto Lake Tahoe Boulevard, North Upper Truckee Road, and Sawmill Road. Portions of the three (3) roads are two (2) lane roads and pass through primarily residential and forested areas. Historically, medium and large-sized commercial vehicles have frequently attempted to traverse these roads to bypass congestion on US Highway 50, only to become stuck and/or slide off the roadway, requiring large tow trucks to remove them.
Transportation staff developed four (4) possible alternatives and presented the options to the South Lake Tahoe Traffic Advisory Committee on August 14, 2025.
The following, Alternative Three (3), is the final recommendation that was approved by the South Lake Tahoe Traffic Advisory Committee:
Resolution No. 141A-89
ADD:
“(c) Lake Tahoe Boulevard (No. 2204) weight limit of 14,000 pounds from Sawmill Road (No. 2202) to North Upper Truckee Road (No. 159).”
“North Upper Truckee Road (No. 159) weight limit of 14,000 pounds from Lake Tahoe Boulevard (No. 2204) to U.S. Highway 50.”
The following vehicles will be exempt from this Resolution.
• Vehicles making deliveries of any kind; provided the vehicles take the most direct route to complete the delivery.
• Any vehicle operated by the County, or a private contractor under contract with the County, while engaged in snow removal, road maintenance, construction, or related activities.
• Any vehicle operated by the County, or a private operator under contract with the County, as part of its transit system.
• Any vehicle owned by a public utility, or under contract to a public utility, while in use in the construction, installation, or repair of any public utility facility.
• Emergency vehicles
• School buses under the jurisdiction of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to agree with the South Lake Tahoe Traffic Advisory Committee's decision to implement a weight restriction on North Upper Truckee Road and Lake Tahoe Boulevard from Sawmill Road to North Upper Truckee Road; however, medium and large commercial vehicles would likely continue to use the road.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Traffic Advisory Committee and County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The installation of four (4) weight limit signs on North Upper Truckee Road and Lake Tahoe Boulevard is estimated at $4,000 total. Funding to complete the work is included in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 adopted budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk will obtain the Chair's signature on one (1) original of the Resolution.
2) The Clerk will forward one (1) copy of the Resolution to Transportation, Maintenance and Operations Division, attention Ashley Johnson.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Rafael Martinez, Director
Department of Transportation