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| Project Snapshot: | A long-bypassed mountain town incorporates and rebuilds main street to reclaim its place in history. |
| Project History: |
Truckee is located along the original section of the Donner Pass Road, though Interstate-80 has long since whisked travelers around the charms of the historic Commercial Row. The town is located along the upper reach of the Truckee River, the outlet to Lake Tahoe, at an elevation of nearly 6,000 feet. The scenic mountain setting brings heavy tourism year-round. The town's history began in the 1840s, with the quest for gold and green pastures bringing wagon trains across the Sierra Nevada. Later, the building of the transcontinental railroad put Truckee on the map, and the economy boomed around mining, timber and ice that was harvested and sent to San Francisco. Donner Pass is high above the town, and takes its name from the ill-fated Donner Party, a wagon train of settlers who were trapped here by early snows in the Fall of 1846. Today, the story of the 42 members of the party who died, and the 47 survivors, is told at Donner Memorial State Park, just outside of Truckee on the east shore of Donner Lake. The recent history of Truckee's downtown revitalization begins in 1993, when the town finally incorporated, after several prevous attempts. Incorporation not only addressed the growth boom that has come to Truckee, but also allowed for a much-needed upgrade to the historic Old Town area, which includes Commercial Row and the historic Truckee rail station. These improvements helped draw tourists back to the historic district, and today Commerical Row is a lively destination for thousands of visitors every year. |
| Best Ideas: |
Undaunted by deep snow and short summers, the Truckee project includes a surprising variety of paving materials, landscaping ideas and traffic solutions that make it easy and enjoyable for visitors to stop in Old Town. The California DOT consented to build a roundabout at the I-80 interchange west of downtown, an innovation that helps minimize the scale of the intersection with Donner Pass Road, and maintain the two-lane capacity. Along Commerical Row, textured sidewalk pavers provide a sturdy surface for any weather condition, while giving the area a distinctive look. Numerous raised planters also have built-in benches, and often hold smaller, hardy tree species that shade the sidewalk. Much of the sidewalk is protected by awnings and building overhangs, and in some areas, expands to become part of a covered mini-plaza. Angled, head-in parking also works to provide a substantial buffer between road traffic and the sidewalk, while calming traffic. |
| Worst Ideas: |
Pedestrians are largely confined to the north side of the street, due, in part, to the fact that most of Commerical Row is located on this frontage. However, pedestrian crossings to the railroad station, off-street parking and other attractions on the south frontage are weakened by overly wide travel lanes on Donner Pass Road, and a lack of adequate marked crossings. The south side of Donner Pass Road is lacking in pedestrian improvements, in general - perhaps a signal that the Town of Truckee plans to develop a second phase of the project here. |
| Contact Information: |
Town of Truckee 10183 Truckee Airport Road Truckee, CA 96161 530) 582-7700 e-mail: truckee@townoftruckee.com web: http://www.townoftruckee.com/ |
