The Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit (TART) Connect microtransit service in Incline Village and Crystal Bay will end on December 11 due to a lack of stable, long-term funding.
The on-demand, curb-to-curb shuttle program has provided more than one million rides across the North Lake Tahoe region since its launch in 2021 in an effort to cut down on traffic, pollution and parking concerns. Organizers say 65% of the TART Connect ridership is full-time residents.
While Zone 3 operations will stop service on December 11, TART Connect services will continue on the California side of North Lake Tahoe and Truckee, where Placer County and the Town of Truckee have dedicated funds through its own Tourism Business Improvement District.
Funding for TART Connect in Nevada has long relied on a patchwork of short-term commitments from multiple organizations, without a consistent, ongoing revenue stream. Funding has come from numerous Nevada sources, including Washoe County, RTC Washoe, Travel North Tahoe Nevada, the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, the Tahoe Fund, and the League to Save Lake Tahoe.
Authorities say declining tourism is affecting the amount of reinvestment funds available for TART Connect’s Zone 3 service and other transportation and community programs. Recent data shows total room revenue in Washoe Tahoe was down 30% and rooms occupied down 18% compared to 2024.
Community members are encouraged to share their input about their impact as next steps are considered by emailing TART@placer.ca.gov. More information on regional transportation options is available at tahoetruckeetransit.com.
“Delivering transit options like TART Connect requires dependable revenue, and while we explored many avenues, including legislation to create a Business Improvement District, our proposal did not make it through Nevada’s 2025 legislative session,” said Andy Chapman, President and CEO of Travel North Tahoe Nevada. “Though it is clear that this is a useful community amenity that benefits residents, local businesses and visitors, what is unclear is how to secure the funding needed to sustain service. We need a durable solution - not year-to-year uncertainty - if we want a sustainable and successful microtransit system servicing residents and guests in the Washoe Tahoe region.”
