Transit for national parks and gateway communities: Impacts and guidance

Dunning, Anne

The traffic congestion that has grown into a major public policy issue in U.S. metropolitan areas has also become a significant issue for the U.S. National Park Service. Traffic problems threaten both of the National Park Service’s core missions: to preserve and protect the resource and to provide for the enjoyment of visitors. Traffic congestion, corresponding vehicle emissions, and inappropriate parking can cause significant damage to natural resources and contribute to a compromised visitor experience. In response to growing congestion problems, the National Park Service has implemented transit service in some national parks; however, some local communities have speculated that proposed transit service might negatively impact visitation patterns and transportation circulation, which would potentially create important consequences to the communities themselves. Businesses that have emerged to cater to park visitors have typically developed in environments dominated by private vehicle transportation. With the introduction of transit, visitor travel patterns and behavior can change. This change could represent a new market for local entrepreneurs, or it could negatively affect business activities. Park managers and community leaders need information and guidance on the potential impacts of transit in these recreational areas. Based on past experience with transit in national parks, this research has developed a recommended approach for transit planning in national parks. The first goal of the research was to develop an understanding of the impacts associated with the introduction or improvement of transit service in national parks and gateway communities, those communities that serve as major entrance points to the national park. The second goal of the research was to recommend procedures for monitoring the local performance and impacts of park and gateway community transit systems. This research emerged from a case study methodology involving on-site interviews, direct observation, and review of public documents, addressing two primary research question categories: • What has been the experience when transit services have been introduced in national parks? To what extent have people visiting or living in surrounding areas changed their travel patterns based on the availability of transit? What impacts have been felt in gateway communities? • How can parks implementing or planning to implement transit service understand and benchmark their local experience? How can transit service organizers monitor transit service performance and the economic impacts of local transportation strategies?