Incline Village, Nevada… Tahoe Transportation District’s East Shore Express, (http://www.eastshoreexpress.org) a park and ride bus schedule from Incline Village to Sand Harbor, will continue summer operations for a third consecutive year thanks to a federal grant and the Lake Tahoe License Plate Funds.

The goal of this Tahoe Transportation District service is to address traffic congestion and promote safety along the Nevada state Route 28 corridor, while reducing environmental impacts. More than 70 percent of the pollutants contributing to Lake Tahoe’s clarity loss come from the existing transportation systems and developed areas. Riding the bus can reduce emissions as well as road-use erosion, improving air and water quality.

Buses will operate from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., running every 20 minutes, May 31 – June 29 (weekends only). Daily operations begin Monday, June 30 and conclude Monday, Sept. 1.

Roundtrip fare is $3 per person and $1.50 for children 12 and under, seniors and disabled passengers. Fares include admission to Sand Harbor. Passengers transferring from Tahoe Area Regional Transit pay $1 with a transfer. The service utilizes a dedicated entrance to keep traffic moving and drops passengers at the Visitor’s Center near the main beach. Parking inside Sand Harbor is $10 per vehicle for Nevada residents and $12 for out-of-state motorists.

The East Shore Express loops from the old Incline Village Elementary School on the corner of Highway 28 and Southwood Boulevard to Sand Harbor. TART passengers are able to connect to the East Shore Express at the TART stop located east of Village Boulevard. The Washoe Regional Transportation Commission has also added a weekend route from Reno (Legends Outlet Mall) to Sand Harbor.

In its 2012 inaugural season, the East Shore Express shuttled 12,155 passengers between June and Labor Day. In 2013, there was a 15 percent increase with 13,981 riders. The service was initiated by the TTD in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, Nevada Division of State Parks, Nevada Department of Transportation, Nevada Highway Patrol and Washoe County School District.

For this summer, the Federal Transit Administration awarded TTD $120,000 and Lake Tahoe License Plate Funds provided an additional $80,000 to cover costs for the East Shore Express to operate.

More than 1 million visitors recreate annually in the state Route 28 corridor, but with limited parking in many areas, the situation has resulted in pedestrians crossing into busy travel lanes in both directions. In 2012, the Nevada Division of State Parks ended walk-in visitation. Drop-offs and parking are illegal along the highway at Sand Harbor. The no parking zone encompasses approximately 3/4 of a mile in both directions from the park’s main entrance and will result in a fine.

The East Shore Express is a component of the SR 28 Corridor Management Plan, a community-based action strategy to preserve and promote the unique characteristics of this National Scenic Byway. The plan includes 13 local, state and federal agencies in a cooperative effort to manage the corridor. It is designed to improve safety, access for emergency vehicles, alleviate congested roadways and reduce vehicle emissions.

For details on Tahoe Transportation District and its current projects, visit http://www.TahoeTransportation.org or call (775) 589-5500.