The recently opened Tahoe City Transit Center (TART) was crowned the winner of the 2012 Western Red Cedar Architectural Award for its stunning and intelligent use of Tahoe's famous raw materials: Western red cedar wood and Sierra ledge stone.
The award was presented by a company which is promoting the western red cedar and will use the event as a highlight in the advertisement that will feature in the next edition of Architecture Daily, reports Curbed.
The Tahoe City Transit Center is an intermodal hub for the local and international visitors where they can access public transport. Located on the West and North Shores of Lake Tahoe, the center has an 1100 square feet terminal that has a temperature controlled waiting area with restrooms and bench seats. It has six bus bays and numerous bike racks and lockers.
TART also has a high tech display system called "Nextbus" that informs passengers about transit timings, arrivals and departures. The system also provides real-time online mapping of the bus routes and its stops. The government has also launched a "Nextbus" mobile application that enables easier usage and access to the travelers.
Construction on the TART project began two years back. However, work was stalled due to lack of supply of construction materials and the short construction season at Tahoe city. Nevertheless, construction resumed in the spring of 2012 and the center opened to the public on October 29, 2012, reports Placer County News.
The TART project worth 4.5 million was largely funded by federal transport grants and Placer County Transient Occupancy Tax Funds. It was constructed by Gilbane Construction and designed by the architects at WRNS Studio. Currently, it is being managed by Placer County Department of Public Works. The project is also a part of the city's regional environment improvement plan and aims at reducing traffic congestion and air pollution, which will in turn benefit the lake.
