During the 2017 National Regional Transportation Conference, Dan Landon shared how the Nevada County Transportation Commission is engaged with a larger regional effort to connect planning efforts across rural communities among the Sierra Mountains in Nevada and California.

1. Trans-Sierra Region
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TRANSPORTATION FOR A PLACE LIKE NO OTHER

2. The Trans-Sierra Region
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3. The Trans-Sierra Region
• 11 counties
California
Amador
Alpine
El Dorado
Placer
Nevada
Sierra
Nevada
Carson
Douglas
Lyon
Storey
Washoe
• 15,800 square miles
• 1.2 million residents
CA: 650,000 NV: 550,000
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The Trans-Sierra Transportation Coalition
A voluntary collaboration of parties interested in improving transportation in and
adjacent to the Sierra Nevada in northern California and northern Nevada
 Visitor authorities
 Economic development groups
 Environmental groups
 TMAs
 Local governments
 Planning and transportation agencies
 Federal and state partners
 Chambers of Commerce
 Other interested parties

5. The Trans-Sierra Region:
A place like no other
• Incredible natural beauty and recreational opportunities
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6. The Trans-Sierra Region:
A place like no other
• Extensive public land ownership
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7. The Trans-Sierra Region:
A place like no other
• Widely dispersed population – lot of wide open spaces
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8. The Trans-Sierra Region:
A place like no other
• Close proximity to major population centers
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9. The Trans-Sierra Region:
A place like no other
• One region straddling two states
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10. The Trans-Sierra Region:
A place like no other
• Large portion of the economy is driven by tourism and recreation
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11. The Trans-Sierra Region:
Unique transportation needs
• Transportation system must not only support businesses and residents,
but huge numbers of visitors and recreationists
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12. The Trans-Sierra Region:
Unique transportation needs
• Huge swings in numbers of travelers by time of week, season, and events
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13. The Trans-Sierra Region:
Unique transportation needs
• Transportation system need to move more people around with fewer cars
to preserve the environment and the quality of the experience for visitors
and residents alike
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14. The Trans-Sierra Region:
Transportation funding is seriously deficient
• Through about 2035
− Needs: $35 billion
− Existing funding: $19 billion
− Shortfall: $15 billion
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15. The Trans-Sierra Region:
Transportation funding is seriously deficient
• Transportation shortfall is exacerbated by many of the same factors that
make the region unique and worthy of preservation
− Beauty
− Environmental sensitivity
− Dispersed resident population
− Number of visitors
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16. Develop local and state sustained funding sources for 20 to 30+ years
− Federal reauthorization of programs beneficial to the region (MAP 21 and other
programs)
− Creation of dedicated funding streams from the states
− Establishing significant local funding sources
What is the Trans-Sierra Region doing to address the
funding shortfall?
Coalition Goals
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17. Coalition Goals
• Coordinated transportation programs for a larger regional network of
trails, transit, and roads
− Improve access to federal lands and other scenic and recreational
opportunities
− Improve visitor mobility for the economy
− Support regional economic development and activity
− Sustain and enhance quality-of-life for residents
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18. Top 5 Most Common
Themes
AlpineCountyLTC
AmadorCountyTC
Caltrans
CarsonAreaMPO
CFL-California
CFL-Nevada
DouglasCounty
ElDoradoCountyTC
NevadaCountyTC
NDOT
PlacerCountyTPA
SierraCountyTC
TahoeMPO
WashoeCountyRTC
Provide and maintain
a safe, efficient and
convenient
transportation system
         
Reduce environmental
impacts and improve
quality of life
      
Invest strategically in
transportation
services and facilities
to improve mobility
for people and goods
movement
        
Enhance integration
and connectivity of a
multi-modal
transportation system
     
Strengthen economy by
investing in              
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19. Trans-Sierra Transportation Plan:
Vision
“The Trans-Sierra region will be served by an integrated multimodal
transportation system that is built, operated, and maintained collaboratively,
efficiently and sustainably by diverse regional interests with a common
voice. The Trans-Sierra transportation system will contribute to a stronger
economic community by enhancing residential, commercial and visitor
mobility and by coordinating with approved land use plans. This system will
promote safety and support protection of the region’s outstanding
environmental assets by reducing congestion, vehicle emissions, and
roadway-related pollutants and erosion.”
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20. Scope of Phase 1
• Define Coalition Geography
• Determine a collective transportation vision and plan
− Compliments existing transportation plans
− Focus on common goals and objectives, vs. individual projects and
services
− Identify opportunities for synergy
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21. Scope of Phase 1
• Develop a “business case” documenting the costs and benefits of
implementing the collective transportation vision
− Economic and non-economic benefits of transportation investment
− Collective benefits measured quantitatively or qualitatively
− Compilation of costs to implement, operate, and sustain current and
future transportation investments
• Document the funding challenges that could affect the vision
− Based upon existing plans and a regional roll up
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22. Objectives of Phase 1
1) Make a compelling case for comprehensive, sustainable transportation
investments across the region
2) Provide coalition members information to support individual efforts for
additional funding
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23. What could be done for the
Trans-Sierra Region with full
transportation funding?
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24. Full Transportation Funding for the
Trans-Sierra Region
• Sustainable, integrated, multimodal system serving the needs of current
and future generations
− Operations
− Maintenance
− System renewal
− Expansion and evolution to meet future demands of the region
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25. Full Transportation Funding for the
Trans-Sierra Region
• Inter-regional multi-modal corridors
− I-80, US 50, and US 395/I-580
• Intra-regional/local facilities and services
− Streets
− Transit
− Bicycle
− Pedestrian
• Environmental projects
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26. Benefits Trans-Sierra Transportation Investment
for Business
• Job Creation
• Greater economic competiveness, diversity, and stability
• More effective work force recruitment and retention
• Sustained and expanded visitation and tourism
• Enhanced attractiveness for special events (Olympics)
− I-80, US 50, and US 395/I-580
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27. Benefits Trans-Sierra Transportation Investment
for Residents
• Economic prosperity, competitiveness, and opportunity
• Increased public resources to strengthen communities (increased tax
revenue)
• Outstanding quality of life
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28. Benefits Trans-Sierra Transportation Investment
for Visitors
• More to do
• Easier to do it
• Improved quality of experience
• Eco-friendly recreation
• Enhanced quality-of-life (an even better backyard playground for the
northern California Megapolitan region)
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Follow Up Activity: January 27, 2017
• Shared understanding of transportation demand, present and future.
• Transportation policy discussions.
• Common transportation strategies for coordinated action.
• Identification of key research data or studies needed.
• Agreement on coordination and collaboration among governments, business
associations and nonprofit organizations to implement solutions.

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Next Steps:
• Formalize and grow mega-region partnerships with periodic meetings and task
forces.
• Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) to lead on formal collaboration
agreements.
• Better align common interests, including creation of shared vision.
• Explore ways to pool resources and share data.
• Explore implementing transportation/trip planning software for the mega-region.
• Consider coordinating an aligned legislative strategy.
• Work toward aligning transportation performance metrics.

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The Trans-Sierra Transportation Coalition