GoingtotheSun Road Construction Mitigation

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Going-to-the-Sun RoadConstruction Mitigation
Glacier National Park Update TRB Task Force
Transportation Needs of National Parks and Public
Lands July 2006
Presented by Bill Byrne David Evans and
Associates, Inc
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NEEDS SUMMARY

• Major reconstruction begins in 2007
• Congestion may be increased by construction
  delaysof up to 30 minutes during peak hours and
  one hour during off-peak hours.
• Need to reduce traffic while maintaining access
  for as many visitors as possible.
• Parking demand exceeds supply at many
  attractions.
• Access to park attractions by means other than
  the private automobile needed, especially for
  hiking.

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NEEDS SUMMARY

• Going-to-the-Sun Road is used by more than 80
  of visitors.
• Primary access to many of the parks most popular
  attractions.
• Visitor use must be addressed to safeguard the
  quality of park resources and the visitor
  experience.
• Maintaining a quality visitor experience during
  construction is key to maintaining the regional
  economy.

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Variation in Visitation Along GTSR
Road Segment Traffic (Average Daily Traffic)
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Peak Hour Traffic on Alpine Segment
Road Segment Traffic (Average in Month)
2.4 People Per Vehicle
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MITIGATION PLAN GOALS

• Maintain the Glacier National Park visitor
  experience.
• Sustain Glacier National Park resources.
• Retain park visitation during Going-to-the-Sun
  Road rehabilitation construction.
• Reduce congestion on Going-to-the-Sun Road by 10
  to 20.
• Plan facilities and services that can be used
  long term, after the Rehabilitation Project is
  complete, where practical.
• Meet visitor needs related to a range of uses,
  including hiking.

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MITIGATION PLAN ELEMENTS

• Shuttle bus service
• Transit centers
• Work zone traffic management and control
• Traveler information
• Traffic conditions in construction zones
• Parking conditions
• Alternative destinations
• Availability of shuttle service

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Proposed Transit Concept

• 3 Routes
• West GTSR Logan Pass Route (Apgar TC to Logan
  Pass)
• East GTSR Route (Town of St. Mary to Logan Pass)
• Apgar Circulator Route (US 2 to West Glacier,
  Apgar TC, Apgar Village,Fish Creek Campground)
• First buses arrive at Logan Pass at 845 am last
  buses leave Logan Pass at 900 pm

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Transit Concept and Potential Future Expansion
Proposed Transit Routes Current Preferred
Option East GTSR Route West GTSR Route Apgar
Circulator Future Phased Routes Many
Glacier/Two Med Route Marias Pass
Route Transfer Points
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Proposed Transit Service

• Each Route Operates Every 30 minutes
• Timed Transfers at Apgar Transit Center and Logan
  Pass
• Begin Operation July 1
• End Operation on Labor Day

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Capital Investments for Transit

• Vehicles
• Bus maintenance facilities
• West side
• East side
• Transit Centers with Parking at Apgar Village and
  St. Mary Entrance
• Transit Stops along GTSR
• Minimal initial investment
• Improvements constructed as road project proceeds

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Vehicles- Design Issues

• Current park buses (Jammers) are 26½ feet long,
  96 inches wide, and are powered by gasoline or
  propane. Duel fuel operation is problematic

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Vehicles- Design Issues

• Design issues include
• Turning radius and bus width and length
• Seating capacity and interior aisle width
• Fuel type
• Regular or low floor kneeling bus
• Wheelchair access
• Window design
• Destination signs

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Vehicles- Candidates

• NPS Prototype for Yellowstone
• Delivery issues
• Chassis warrantee (?)

Does not include mirrors, which can add a total
of 10 to 30 to the width
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Vehicles- Candidates

• NPS Prototype in Glacier
• Similar Issues
• 102 width

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Vehicles- Design Issues

• Lighter Duty Bus
• 96 maximum width
• 4 - 7 yrs service life (year-round operation)
• 54,000 - 75,000/bus
• Low floor pending
• Seating capacity
• 10 to 29 passengers

• Heavier Duty Bus
• 96 - 102 maximum width
• 10 - 12 yrs service life (year-round operation)
• 140,000 - 210,000/bus
• Low floor available now
• Seating capacity
• 19 to 23 passengers

Does not include mirrors, which can add a total
of 10 to 30 to the width
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Proposed Vehicles

• Selected buses - heavy duty and 96 wide
• best investment over the long term
• offers the most control over bus specifications

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Example Vehicles
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Vehicles- Procurement Issues

• 96 Buses No Longer Available
• Heavy duty buses now 102 only
• Plan modified to include mixed fleet
• 102, 30 low-floor buses for West Side and East
  Side routes
• Smaller Sprinter buses for Alpine Route

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Vehicles- Revised Plan
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Vehicles - Alternate Fuel Options

• Options include bio-diesel, propane, natural gas
• Propane vehicles not readily available
• Natural gas supply not available
• Ultra low sulfur diesel can be blended with
  agricultural products to produce bio-diesel

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Vehicles - Alternate Fuel Options, cont.

• RECOMMENDATION
• BioDiesel is preferred. Engine certification
  issues depending on formulation.

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Maintenance Issues

• Maintenance Functions
• Fueling, washing, driver reporting, parking
  (daily)
• Routine maintenance and inspection (periodic)
• Heavy repair/overhaul (infrequent)

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Maintenance Plan

• Bus parking, driver reporting, and bus washing
  located in GNP
• A wash facility will be located in the HQ area
• Bus parking at the Apgar Transit Center
• Routine and heavy duty maintenance will be
  conducted off site (Eagle Transit)
• Blackfeet Tribe will provide maintenance and
  washing on the east side of the park

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Transit Centers

• New transit center near Apgar Village
• Modifications to St. Mary Visitor Center to
  increase parking and accommodate transit boarding

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Apgar Transit Center

• 4.2 million bid received July 2006
• Open for visitor use July 2007

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Service Delivery Strategy

• Glacier National Park is working with Eagle
  Transit (Flathead County), Montana DOT and the
  Blackfeet Tribe to form a partnership for service
  delivery
• Funding National Park Service and MDT (FTA
  funds for vehicles)
• Operation Eagle Transit and Blackfeet Tribe
• Facilities Glacier National Park, Eagle Transit
  and Blackfeet Tribe

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Bus Purchase Funding Concept
Total Bus Cost Assume 5.4 million
GNPs share must include sufficient funding of
an identity that is eligible to match MDTs share
depending on the FTA program source of
MDTs funding Section 5309 (20) 580k
Section 5311 (13) 389K MDTs share will
likely include both Section 5309 5311 funding

GNP Share (Assume 2.5 million)
MDT Share (Assume 2.9 million)
January 23, 2006
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Operations Funding Strategy

• Preferred operations funding strategy is to
  combine GTSR Mitigation project funds with a
  transportation fee (collected as part of the
  entrance fee)

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Transit System Challenges

• Vehicles
• Ongoing negotiations for Cooperative Agreement
  have delayed vehicle purchase
• Park will purchase Sprinters and operate an
  interim system from Apgar Transit Center to Logan
  Pass in 2007
• Full system implementation in 2008 including 30
  transit vehicles

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Transit System Evolution

• Future Plans
• Construct improvements at stops as road rehab
  proceeds
• Construct improvements at St. Mary
• Seek opportunities for
• Off-season use of transit vehicles
• Expanded service outside park