News Release

Work Continues on Traffic Congestion Management Plan for Arches National Park

Date: July 9, 2018
Contact: Andy L. Fisher, 520-820-2567

Moab, UT – The National Park Service (NPS) is continuing the planning process for the Traffic Congestion Management Plan (TCMP), in an attempt to alleviate crowding in Arches National Park, and expects to have a final decision this fall.

As part of the process, park officials solicited public input on the proposed alternatives included in the draft plan. More than 400 comments were received. The park has been reviewing those comments and revising the plan in response.

“We received quite a bit of feedback on the proposal,” according to Kate Cannon, Superintendent of the Southeast Utah Group. “It takes time to consider each of the comments and determine how we can revise the plan to mitigate some of the concerns while finding space in the plan to include some of the good suggestions.”

Once the park incorporates revisions to the plan, it will be submitted for agency approval before being made available to the public this fall. Any proposed changes to traffic management will not affect visitors in the park until summer of 2019, at the earliest.

The NPS does not comment on any specific revisions to the proposed plan until the review is finished. Superintendent Cannon added, “We want to get the plan right and you can be sure we are working on it.”

For more information about the Southeast Utah Group of national parks visit our websites at:
Arches National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Hovenweep National Monument
Natural Bridges National Monument