Comparative Transportation Policy and Planning

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Evaluating Alternative Transportation System
Needs in National Parks Northeast Region National
Park Service Kenneth Joh, Ph.D. Student Marlon
G. Boarnet, Advisor Institute of Transportation
Studies and Department of Planning, Policy, and
Design University of California,
Irvine kjoh_at_uci.edu Supported by
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Overview

• Introduction NPS Northeast Region
• Challenges Facing the Northeast Region
• Goals of Alternative Transportation Systems (ATS)
• Issues and Concerns of the Alternative
  Transportation Program (ATP)
• Current Status of ATS in the Northeast Region
• ATP and Regional Transportation Planning
• Conclusion and Policy Recommendations

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Introduction NPS Northeast Region

• The NPS Northeast Region is one of seven regions
  administered by the National Park Service

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Introduction NPS Northeast Region

• The NPS Northeast Region administers national
  parks, monuments, seashores, recreation areas,
  and other NPS units located in thirteen
  northeastern states CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ,
  NY, PA, RI, VT, VA, and WV

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Introduction NPS Northeast Region

• The NPS Northeast Region administers more than
  20 of the National Park System, including a
  quarter of all historic structures and half of
  the National Historic Landmarks
• The NPS Northeast Region administers two of
  Americas most popular National Parks Acadia
  National Park and Shenandoah National Park

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Challenges Facing the Northeast Region

• NPS units in the Northeast Region face
  significant transportation and environmental
  challenges
• The Northeast Region is the most densely
  populated region in the U.S.
• Many parks are located within or in close
  proximity to major metropolitan areas
• Although some Northeast parks are accessible by
  public transit, many are primarily accessible by
  car, leading to severe traffic congestion,
  parking shortages, and environmental degradation
• Regional coordination of transportation goals
  between state, federal, and local levels remains
  a significant challenge

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Goals of Alternative Transportation Systems

• Relieving Congestion
• Alleviate traffic congestion and parking
  shortages
• Reduce peak season automobile traffic within
  parks
• Enhance visitor mobility and accessibility
• Preserving Natural and Cultural Resources
• Minimize visitor impact to the environment
• Reducing Pollution
• ATS would help reduce pollution from automobile
  traffic
• Promoting Economic Development
• ATS can benefit local communities and businesses
  by providing access to hotels, restaurants,
  campgrounds, shops
• Improve the Visitor Experience

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Issues and Concerns of the Alternative
Transportation Program (ATP)

• The NPS, in cooperation with the FHWA and FTA,
  established the ATP in 1998 to administer the
  allocation of TEA-21 funds for alternative
  transportation projects in national park units
• NPS park units submit ATS project proposals to be
  reviewed and prioritized by NPS regional offices
  that recommend project proposals for approval and
  funding
• These applications are received through a
  centralized database management system called the
  Project Management Information System (PMIS)
• Submissions of ATS project proposals during the
  fiscal year are approved and prioritized based on
  cost and need by the NPS headquarters in
  Washington, D.C.

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Issues and Concerns of the Alternative
Transportation Program (ATP)

• The 2002 GAO Report on ATP highlighted flaws in
  the project approval process used by NPS
• Projects were approved by NPS officials without
  adequately analyzing park data that demonstrate
  specific needs or cost-effectiveness of
  transportation projects
• No-build alternatives were usually not considered
• The NPS also lacked an effective means of
  evaluating the performance of existing ATS
  systems (not based on quantitative data)
• In response to the GAO Report, the NPS has
  recently outlined a plan to improve the
  performance management process that includes the
  development of an annual performance plan and
  report that meets outcome-related performance
  goals

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Current Status of ATS in the Northeast Region

• The majority (58) of NPS units in the Northeast
  Region have an alternative transportation system
  already in service or in the planning stages for
  future implementation

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Current Status of ATS in the Northeast Region

• The majority of transit systems are not operated
  by NPS but are operated by an independent
  concessioner or contractor
• A significant number of NPS park units in the
  Northeast, primarily those located in urban
  areas, are accessible by public transit
• Some notable ATS systems serving Northeast Region
  park visitors include
• Acadia National Park (shuttle)
• Adams National Historical Park (shuttle)
• Cape Cod National Seashore (bus transit)
• Fire Island National Seashore (passenger ferries)
• Gettysburg National Military Park (shuttle)
• Lowell National Historical Park (trolley)

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ATP and Regional Transportation Planning

• A fundamental mission of the NPS is to achieve
  regional planning goals by working closely with
  MPOs, state DOTs, and local governments
• The success of ATP depends on how well its
  objectives and goals can be coordinated with
  regional transportation planning goals
• However, there are several challenges to regional
  coordination
• Achieving cooperation/coordination between
  multiple agencies and jurisdictions
• Overcoming conflicts in fiscal and policy goals
  between multiple agencies and jurisdictions
• Funding for NPS transportation projects require
  STIP funding/approval

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Conclusion and Policy Recommendations

• ATS play an integral role in the development of
  NPS Northeast Region transportation goals
• Implementing an effective alternative
  transportation program can alleviate congestion,
  reduce pollution, preserve natural resources, and
  improve the quality of the national park visitor
  experience and the quality of life for residents
  of gateway communities
• Recognize the unique characteristics of the
  Northeast Region in developing comprehensive
  regional transportation goals
• Improve the selection and prioritization
  processes for ATP projects and improve
  performance measures
• Promote efficiency and cost-effectiveness of NPS
  transportation projects
• Pursue regional transportation planning to
  achieve regional transportation goals