News Release

Update on Arches National Park’s Traffic Congestion Management Plan Environmental Assessment - January 2018

Date: January 13, 2018
Contact: Kate Cannon, 435-719-2101

Moab, UT – The National Park Service (NPS) is currently reviewing comments received on the Traffic Congestion Management Plan (TCMP) Environmental Assessment (EA) for Arches National Park. During the public comment period (November 1 – December 18, 2017), 421 comments were received from people across the country and around the world. Forty-six people also attended a public meeting in Moab, Utah on November 16.

“It is clear that everyone who provided feedback cares deeply for Arches National Park; and we are grateful for their thoughtful input,” said Kate Cannon, superintendent of Arches and Canyonlands national parks.

The TCMP is being developed to address concerns resulting from significant increases in Arches National Park visitation. In 2016, 1.6 million visitors entered the park, almost double the number that entered the park 10 years ago. Visitors now wait in long lines at the entrance station only to find themselves spending equally long periods of time searching for parking, diminishing the visitor experience. When parking is unavailable, visitors often elect to park along roadways or in other non-designated parking areas, placing themselves at risk as they walk along and cross busy roadways. In addition, the lines at the entrance station periodically back up onto US Highway 191, a serious traffic hazard impacting both visitors and non-visitors.

The NPS is committed to providing a safe and high quality visitor experience in Arches National Park. In the coming weeks, park staff will be addressing all substantive comments received during the public comment period. Substantive comments are those that: question, with reasonable basis, the accuracy or adequacy of analysis; present reasonable alternatives not yet considered; or cause changes or revisions to the proposal. Depending on the nature of the comments received, a final or updated draft will then be developed.

Arches National Park staff would like to thank the public for their continued involvement in the traffic congestion management planning process.

For general information about Arches National Park visit our website at: www.nps.gov/arch.