TART Connect

Project Partners: Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau, Washoe County
Funds Granted: $20,000 

Last year, an estimated 15 million people visited Lake Tahoe. With this growth in visitation, there are now simply too many cars on Tahoe’s roads. Traffic congestion makes it hard to get from place to place, increases sediment runoff into the Lake, and pollutes Tahoe’s fresh mountain air. If we want to get people out of their cars, we have to provide them with affordable and easy-to-use alternatives. 

To that end, the Tahoe Area Rapid Transit (TART) launched the TART Connect pilot last year to provide free, on-demand, curb-to-curb rides–much like an Uber or Lyft. It was an immediate success and will be running again this summer with support from the Tahoe Fund and public funders. The system is simple: Tahoe riders download an app, request a ride, and are then taken to the destination of their choice. 

This incredibly popular service has not only helped to get people out of their cars and reduce emissions, but has also enabled people to frequent restaurants, bars, trails and other establishments they may not have been able to access safely or conveniently in the past. 

Photo by Ryan Salm Photography