Grand Teton National Park Transportation Plan—Final EIS
news release
Complete Document, Adobe PDF, 8,863 kb (see document by chapters below)
Record of Decision for Final EIS
news release, April 18, 2007

Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) has released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Grand Teton National Park Transportation Plan. The need for the plan comes from a number of trends in park use and recreation preferences. While the overall number of recreational visits to the park has remained relatively stable over the past decade, some of the most popular activity areas and trailheads are experiencing increased use. The purpose of the Grand Teton National Park Transportation Plan is to proactively address and manage transportation-related issues.

The FEIS responds to public comments on the Transportation Plan Draft EIS received during the May 27, 2005 to August 25, 2005 comment period and incorporates additional information and analysis collected since the draft was released. The FEIS analyzes five alternatives for transportation-related improvements within GTNP, with Alternative 3a as the preferred alternative.

Alternative 1: No Action - assumes that current conditions and the current transportation system would be carried forward for the next 5 to 10 years.

Alternative 2: Improved Road Shoulders - has the primary objective of improving the park’s ability to proactively address transportation issues and enhance the experiences of visitors within the park, with little or no construction of multi-use pathways or parking facilities. In order to enhance safety and the quality of visitor experience, approximately 18 miles of roadway shoulders would be widened on the Teton Park Road between Moose Junction and Signal Mountain Lodge.

Alternative 3: Improved Shoulders and Multi-use Pathways - proposes a system of multi-use pathways and shoulder improvements (widening) to provide enhanced and safer experiences for bicyclists and pedestrians. This alternative proposes realigning the Moose-Wilson Road in two areas, with the existing alignments being restored to natural conditions; approximately 3 miles of multi-use pathways on the Moose-Wilson Road from the Granite Canyon Entrance to the Laurance S. Rockefeller (LSR) Preserve;approximately 20 miles of separated multi-use pathways between the south boundary and North Jenny Lake Junction; and approximately 16 miles of improved road shoulders between North Jenny Lake Junction and Colter Bay. 

Alternative 3a: Preferred - a new preferred alternative combining elements of the Draft EIS alternatives 3 and 4. Based on comments received during public review, Alternative 3a provides a wide range of transportation opportunities for bicyclists and pedestrians. This alternative proposes approximately 23 miles of separated multi-use pathways between the south boundary and String Lake Junction via North Jenny Lake Junction; approximately 16 miles of pathways within the road corridor between North Jenny Lake Junction and Colter Bay; an approximately 3-mile pathway within the road corridor along Moose-Wilson Road from the Granite Canyon Entrance to the Laurance S. Rockefeller (LSR) Preserve; and the Moose-Wilson Road realignment in two areas, with the existing alignments being restored to natural conditions.

Alternative 4: Multi-use Pathways - proposes a system of separated multi-use pathways with approximately 36 miles of multi-use pathways between the south boundary and Colter Bay; multi-use pathways along approximately 7 miles of the Moose-Wilson Road; and the Moose-Wilson Road realignment in two areas, with the existing alignments being restored to natural conditions.

The complete FEIS is also available on the web at http://parkplanning.nps.gov. Additional CD copies of the Grand Teton National Park Transportation Plan/EIS are available at the Moose Visitor Center in the park and at the Reference Desk in the Teton County Library.The NPS intends to issue a Record of Decision in January 2007. For further information, call 307-739-3410.