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MEMORANDUM
TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Lars Ewing, Public Services Director
DATE: June 25, 2019
SUBJECT: Consideration of a Memorandum of Understanding between the County of Lake and Lake Transit Authority for the Establishment of a Limited Bus Route on Mount Konocti
Attached for the Board's consideration is a Memorandum of Understanding between the County of Lake and Lake Transit Authority (LTA) to permit LTA to operate a limited bus route to expand public access to and within Mount Konocti Park.
BACKGROUND: In 2012 the County and LTA partnered to establish a pilot program for limited bus routes through Konocti Road to the top of Mount Konocti to provide access to members of the public who are limited in their ability to hike the peak. Subsequent to the implementation of the pilot program, the property owners of a privately-owned segment of Konocti Road sued the County based on their assessment that the use of the existing road easement for public bus transportation exceeded the rights of the County. The case went to trial in 2015 with the court issuing a decision that, in consideration of the County's obligation to protect natural resources; promote non-vehicular use of Konocti Road to the extent feasible; and to protect the private residence owner's privacy, use and enjoyment of his property, the County is authorized to permit LTA to operate two buses per day, twelve days a year for a total of twenty four trips per year to transport elderly and/or physically limited persons or others through Konocti Road to the top of Mount Konocti. To that end, Public Services staff and LTA now propose to restore the bus routes of Mount Konocti.
The proposed program includes certain aspects that merit discussion. First, LTA will use buses that are best suited for traversing Konocti Road; LTA's large 30+ passenger buses will not be used, thereby minimizing damage to the road and impacts to other users of the road. Second, the County will have train...
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