Yosemite National Park Receives $1.3 Million to Improve Transportation System

Date: April 6, 2010

Yosemite National Park received $1.3 million from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to improve the transportation system within the park.  This funding is a portion of the $24.8 million announced by the FTA for improvement of the public transportation in America’s national parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges. 

Yosemite will receive the funding from the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program in order to implement and improve the public transportation system. Congress established the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program to enhance the protection of national parks and federal lands and increase the enjoyment of visitors to those sites. 

In partnership with the Department of the Interior, this program will also help fund planning expenses for alternative transportation systems, such as improved shuttle bus routes and the establishment of bicycle trails within national parks.  The goals of the program are to reduce congestion during the busy summer months in national parks, as well as to conserve the natural, historical, and cultural resources.

“The funding from the Federal Transit Administration is very exciting news for Yosemite National Park.  Yosemite is committed to ensuring long-term stewardship through environmental leadership.  This program will continue Yosemite’s efforts to reduce congestion in the park and better protect the park’s natural resources,” said Superintendent Don Neubacher.

This $1.3 million funding will help Yosemite to post real-time updates on the park’s webpage to allow visitors to see actual traffic counts at all entrances into the park.  In addition, it will also allow visitors to view a model of traffic congestion throughout multiple locations within the park. 

An additional $1.6 million in funding was given to the Yosemite Area Regional Transit System (YARTS) to purchase three clean diesel buses.  YARTS has been operating in the Yosemite area since 2000 and has since provided alternative travel into Yosemite for 515,000 riders.

Please visit http://www.fta.dot.gov/news/news_events_11439.html  for more information.