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A park's transportation system should
enhance the visitor's experience and provide protection to
the visitor and the resources. If a visitor remembers the
transportation system at all, it should be because the park
roads are pleasant looking, safe and efficient, and that alternative
transportation modes augment their enjoyment of park surroundings.
Challenges include:
Road Needs - 65%
of all NPS roadway pavements are in unacceptable condition.
Bridge Needs - There
are still bridges in the NPS inventory that are structurally
deficient and in need of rehabilitation or reconstruction.
Preventative Maintenance
- To maintain the NPS road system
in acceptable condition and succeed in protecting the country's
transportation investment in the national parks, the NPS must
provide an aggressive preventative maintenance program.
Trail Needs - 63%
of all trails are in unacceptable condition, signaling a need
for repair and rehabilitation.
Pollution Reduction
- Air, noise, and visual pollution
must be addressed. Air quality is considered to be poor in
30 parks.
Transportation Planning
and Management Systems - More and more Americans and international
visitors are spending recreation time in national parks, resulting
in more traffic congestion, pollution, and over-crowded parking
lots. Reducing these problems is critical to providing a good
visitor experience and to protect park resources. The
NPS needs to expand its efforts to incorporate sound transportation
planning strategies into all Park General Management Plans.
Parkways -
Many NPS parkways are commuter routes with high traffic volume.
Safety & Security- The
NPS must improve safety and reduce traffic related injuries
and property damage. Safety and security must be an integral
part of any transportation system.
More Info on
Backlog and needs »
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