In Case You Missed It, lastweek, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) hosted the 28th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit to discuss innovative solutions to address transportation challenges and protect the lake’s natural beauty for future generations. She was joined by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), and U.S. Representatives Mark Amodei (R-Nev.), Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) and John Garamendi (D-Calif.), and Chairman Serrell Smokey of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg delivered the keynote address.
In 2020, Cortez Masto hosted the 24th annual Tahoe Summit, and she recently passed legislation through the Senate to extend the authorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act for 10 years. Additionally, she partnered with the Department of Transportation to deliver $24 million in funding from their Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program to extend the popular Tahoe East Shore Trail.
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Sierra Sun Times: Nevada U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto Hosts 28th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit Focused on Transportation, Innovative Solutions to Protect Lake Tahoe
Key Points:
- U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) on Wednesday hosted the 28th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit, bringing together federal, state, Tribal, and local leaders to discuss their joint efforts to preserve the lake for future generations.
- “The world around us is changing, and Lake Tahoe’s economy and the surrounding environment depend on our continued efforts to responsibly evolve and adapt,” said Senator Cortez Masto.
- “Our goal is to ensure visitors and residents alike have access to as much outdoor recreation as possible, while protecting the Basin’s natural environment and strengthening the economy in a way that gives back to our community. I will keep working with our Congressional Delegation, the administration, Tribes, and local stakeholders to extend the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act to keep Tahoe pristine for generations to come.”
KRNV (Broadcast)
This year’s Lake Tahoe summit was all about transportation, with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg detailing a number of projects coming to the Lake Tahoe basin that will increase connectivity. One of those projects is on Tahoe’s Eastern Shore. […]
Cortez Masto: “We have over the years worked so hard to protect the ecosystem and the surrounding regions. But one of the things that we have to really focus on is the transit and the trails.”
It was recently announced that $24 million will go toward road safety and trail improvements on State Route 28. that funding comes from a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Secretary Buttigieg: “When I go through the data showing that transportation is the biggest source of carbon pollution and emissions in our economy, I take that as a challenge to make transportation the biggest part of the solution.”
KOLO: Lake Tahoe to undergo major changes following annual summit
U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto hosted the 28th annual Lake Tahoe summit.
“The question of how we best connect Tahoe is one we have been asking for decades,” said Cortez Masto.
Tribal, state and federal officials are focusing on implementing changes to improve the transportation infrastructure and reduce pollution in the Lake Tahoe Basin, because 72% of pollution is caused by roadways.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg wants a resilient and robust transportation system.
“Sometimes that means designing a road in a way that it is less vulnerable to a wildfire threat. Sometimes it means investing in evacuation routes that might not be considered necessary with the way things worked 20 or maybe 50 years ago.”
Major funding from federal, state and local sectors will support the projects. For example, a bi-partisan RAISE grant for $24 million will extend the East Shore Trail from Sand Harbor to Secret Harbor along Nevada 28 and a $1.7 million PROTECT grant will improve communications and evacuation planning.
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KTVN (Broadcast)
Transportation Secretary Buttigieg discussed working with Senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto on an infrastructure project to help connect the accessible walking and biking trail around Lake Tahoe. But first, the secretary remarked on the sheer beauty of Lake Tahoe.
Secretary Buttigieg: “Three and a half years has taken me to every state in the Union. I’ve seen some remarkable places but have never been to a place like Lake Tahoe. This is an incredible and beautiful setting for us today.”
The Department of Transportation awarded the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency $24 million dollars in DOT funds to finish the accessible Tahoe East Shore Trail, which is a three mile stretch connecting Incline Village and Sand Harbor.
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Overall, Secretary Buttigieg’s stop centered around the balancing act of reducing CO₂ emissions, evolving with climate change, and building a strong economy.
