Fleet and Transportation

 

Yellowstone's historic road corridors, abundant wildlife, and increasing visitation are a challenging combination.

NPS/Frank

Yellowstone National Park has 310 miles of paved road and our developed areas are an average of 30 miles apart. Just getting around Yellowstone takes considerable time, adding challenges to daily operations, and the creation of greenhouse gas emissions through burning of fossil fuels. Yellowstone‘s NPS fleet has over 500 vehicles for various purposes from commuting to plowing snow to moving earth.

Managers continue to look for opportunities to be more fuel-efficient through vehicle technology and operation in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This begins with National Park Service policy to maintain or reduce the number of vehicles in our fleet. Yellowstone's fleet management plans include using more fuel efficient vehicles, and choosing the right vehicles for the job. Using the best technology available will help provide opportunities that enable and encourage greener transportation.

 

Fleet and Transportation Goals

Minimize Impacts from NPS Vehicle Use

• Optimize the number of vehicles in use for NPS operations.
• Transform the size, types and technologies of fleet vehicles. Increase the use of high-efficiency and low-greenhouse gass emitting vehicles.
• Support alternative commuting and telework options for employees.
• Reduce fossil fuel consumption.

Minimize Impacts from Visitor Transportation

• Identify and apply best practices in sustainability for road design, construction and maintenance.
• Design and implement pedestrian-friendly, transit-oriented improvements in developed areas.
• Promote fuel-efficient vehicle operation practices including “no idling” and “minimal rapid acceleration.”
• Where feasible, work with surrounding communities and agencies to implement strategies and programs shuttles and transit systems to popular destinations throughout Yellowstone, surrounding communities, and local airports.

 

2018 Sustainability Report on Fleet and Transportation

Traffic jams are all too common in Yellowstone National Park. Whether it’s caused by visitors stopping to see a bear, bison strolling down the highway, or ongoing construction projects, it’s rare to pass through without having to stop for at least 10 minutes. These stops can unnecessarily increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation.

 

2018 Progress

Baseline Year, 2003 (NPS, Xanterra, Delaware North)

• 333,401 gallons gasoline
• 171,834 gallons diesel

2018 Progress (NPS, Xanterra, Delaware North)

• 347,736 gallons (4.3% increase in gasoline)
• 293,313 gallons (70.7% increase in diesel)

NPS Project

NPS tracked 18 vehicles in their fleet from March 2016 to August 2018 to analyze ways to improve. Idling and speeding are contributing a significant amount of NPS GHG emissions. Studies show that idling for just 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting the engine, and NPS’s fleet had 7,835 instances of idling for more than 5 minutes in this time frame with over half longer than 10 minutes! Turning off engines while stopped and eliminating idle times could reduce NPS GHG by 1.18% which doesn’t seem significant, but every step counts.

The set speed limit throughout most of YNP is 45 mph, which is also the speed range vehicles have the highest gas mileage. In August 2018 alone there were 91 instances of vehicles going over 55 mph (including a handful over 80 mph) within the park boundary, which is also a safety concern. The miles per gallon factor decreases almost half from 50 mph to 80 mph, so please slow down for your safety, animal safety, and improved gas mileage.

 

2018 Gasoline Use in Gallons

User	2003* (Baseline Year)	2016	2017	2018	2018 % Change from Baseline
NPS	183,100	141,500	130,307	168,338	-8%
Xanterra	128,591	158,299	157,552	158,858	+24%
Delaware North	21,710	26,582	20,770	20,540	-5%
YPSS	--	5,721	9,879	9,229	--
Medcor/USPS	--	1,600	1,270	1,270	--
2018 Totals	333,401	333,702	319,778	358,235	--

2018 Diesel Use in Gallons

User	2003* (Baseline Year)	2016	2017	2018	2018 % Change from Baseline
NPS	132,600	167,200	188,106	228,486	+72%
Xanterra	31,673	67,875	62,653	58,868	+86%
Delaware North	7,561	9,898	7,800	6,001	-21%
YPSS	--	8,582	4,233	3,958	--
Medcor/USPS	--	0	0	0	--
2018 Totals	171,834	253,555	262,792	297,313	--