North Lake Tahoe Water Taxi Service Grounded
TAHOE CITY, Calif. (AP) - A pilot water taxi service on Lake Tahoe's north shore is being grounded after three years in operation due to concerns over ridership and funding.
Placer County supervisors voted April 28 not to approve $149,000 in funding to operate the North Lake Tahoe Water Shuttle this summer.
The Sierra Sun newspaper of Truckee reports county staff says the pilot program did not meet expectations for ridership and cost.
The shuttle service drew 3,165 riders last summer at a cost of $520,000. It had been expected to attract between 22,500 and 25,500 riders each summer at a cost of $380,000.
A 30-foot vessel owned and operated by Fine Line Industries transported up to 12 passengers and eight bicycles to four docks, including ones at Tahoe City and Homewood.
