Coloma/Lotus Sustainable Transportation Plan

Green DOT worked on a consultant team for the El Dorado County Transportation Commission, El Dorado Parks, and California State Parks to develop a Sustainable Transportation Plan for Coloma-Lotus. The Plan outlines multimodal and parking improvements needed for an important recreational corridor. Lotus Road and Highway 49 connect several campgrounds and other recreational tourism lodging to Henningsen Lotus Park – a regionally-significant park, the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, kayaking, canoeing and whitewater rafting destinations, and countless other recreational opportunities along the South Fork American River such as fishing, hiking, picnicking, and swimming. Marshall Gold Discovery Park accounts for thousands of child visitors coming for school field trips and many active transportation users cruise through the area destined for the recreational opportunities along the river, creating an urgent need for improved multimodal accommodation and safety improvements. Highway 49 is also an important inter-regional corridor for vehicle traffic, as commuters leave the area for work in Placerville, Roseville and Sacramento and residents from outside communities visit the area for use of the natural amenities.  Green DOT conducted a connectivity and parking analysis to identify conflict zones between vehicles and active transportation use and contributed to a planning effort that will increase safety and encouragement for active transportation users and that will increase access to recreational opportunities.