Page 31 - Flathead Beacon // 5.28.14

FLATHEADBEACON.COM MAY 28, 2014 | 31

TRANSPORTATION
BUSINESSMONTHLY

THE FUTURE OF

GLACIER PARK

TRANSPORTATION

WITH MORE PEOPLE VISITING THE

CROWN OF THE CONTINENT, THE PARK

SERVICE WEIGHS TRANSPORT OPTIONS

IN ITS NEW CORRIDOR STUDY

BSy MOLLY PRIDDY of the Beacon

ummer in Glacier National Park brings a
three-month season of so much activity
that it would put a beehive to shame. More

people are venturing into the park to expe-
rience the beauty and wonder nature pro-
vides, and while increased visitors means more ex-
posure for the park and surrounding businesses, it
also puts strain on Glacier’s existing transportation
infrastructure.
The future of transportation in Glacier Park is a
major issue currently being addressed in the Going-

to-the-Sun Road Corridor Management Plan, a doc-
ument that is not yet inalized.
The Going-to-the-Sun Road, which cuts a jaw-
dropping, 50-mile line through the park, is more
popular than ever, park spokesperson Denise Ger-
mann said, leading to congestion, crowding and ad-
verse efects on the natural surroundings, like more

frequent run-ins with wildlife or wildlife displace-
ment.
One of the most popular forms of transportation
in the park is the relatively new, free shuttle service
that runs along the Sun Road. The park implemented
the shuttles in 2007 in a partnership with Flathead
County’s Eagle Transit when the major 10-year reha-
bilitation project on the Going-to-the-Sun began as a

way to help reduce congestion.
But while most of the construction rehabilitation
work is done – the west side of the road doesn’t have
any scheduled construction this summer – the road
remains congested.
“Overall, what we’re seeing are more people in
that corridor, our shuttle keeps increasing rider-

ship,” Germann said.
In 2007, about 132,000 people rode the shuttles,
and in 2010, the park’s centennial year, that number One of the iconic Red
shot up to 170,000. Last summer, about 151,000 peo-
Buses heads down
Logan Pass during the
See Transportation PAGE 33
summer of 2011.
BEACON FILE PHOTO