Bus rides from Carson to South Lake starting this month

Bus service between Carson City and South Lake Tahoe is scheduled to start this month at no cost to the city government.

The Carson City Regional Transportation Commission approved the two-year agreement Wednesday with the South Lake Area Transit Authority which will use South Lake's BlueGO bus service for rides seven days a week starting Nov. 23.

The rides will cost $4 and run every hour 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. from Carson City's Jump Around Carson (JAC) transfer point on North Plaza Street between Washington and Robinson streets, running about 40 miles to the South Lake Tahoe's Stateline Transit Center in Heavenly Village.

Carson City will use up to $100,000 in annual federal grants to match the money South Lake is using to run the service.

Keith Pearson, Carson City transit coordinator, said South Lake officials asked Carson City about the agreement after the authority did a study about how it could help Stateline casinos workers living in the Carson City area get to work.

Other Carson City residents might use the service for gaming at Stateline casinos, he said.

The deal is great, he said, because it costs Carson City nothing and uses South Lake's buses.

The city "got the sweet end of the deal," he said.

John Andoh, BlueGO Transit Administrator, said at the transportation meeting the service will benefit everyone and will also allow transfers from Wahoe and Douglas counties bus services.

He said public transportation between Carson City and South Lake Tahoe has been needed for years.

BlueGO also makes several stops in Carson Valley.

The service will be the only public transportation in Carson City on Sundays.

According to economic development information from NV Energy, 1,535 workers commute from Carson City to Douglas County, where Stateline is located, while 3,609 people commute from Douglas County to Carson City for work. NV Energy also said 85 workers commute from Carson City to El Dorado County, Calif., where South Lake Tahoe is located, while 851 commute from El Dorado County to Carson City.

For more bus schedule, route and fare information about BlueGO, go to www.BlueGO.com. For more information about Jump Around Carson, go to www.rideJAC.com.

- Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.