1. TEMPLATE DESIGN © 2007 www.PosterPresentations.com On Memorial Day of 2000, the first free shuttles started running and now operate throughout the busy months of April and October, the peak visitor season of the park. Fifteen stops (6 in Springdale and 9 in the park) are located to provide easy boarding for visitors, including those in wheelchairs or others equipped with bicycles. The shuttle system consists of two loops. Private vehicles are not allowed on the 8.6 –mile park loop that operates from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center to the north end of Zion Canyon. The Springdale loop runs from the visitor center to locations within nearby Springdale. During the height of the summer season, the accessible buses run every six minutes from 5:45 a.m. to 11:15 p.m., with visitors waiting no longer than 5 minutes to board. Spring and fall shuttle schedules are adjusted according park visitation. The shuttles leave from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, which provides a restful place for visitors to learn about the park and plan their visit using the shuttle system. Parking at the visitor center (which usually fills up between 10:00 a.m. and 3 p.m.) allows space for 400 vehicles. The Ecological Impact of Mass Transportation in Zion National Park Ashley Payne Georgia College & State University Background Zion National Park, established in 1919, is located in Springdale, Utah. The park is characterized by high plateaus, a maze of narrow, deep, sandstone canyons and striking rock towers and mesas. The mission of Zion National Park is to preserve the dynamic natural process of canyon formation as an extraordinary example of canyon erosion and to protect and preserve the valuable cultural, geologic, vegetation and wildlife resources while providing safe, sustainable and cost-efficient access for visitors experience and enjoyment. In addition, the park aims to educate both visitors and the general public about this exceptional environment. In the early 1990s, parking along the 6.3-mile Zion Canyon Scenic Drive was becoming difficult for visitors. Only 400 parking spots existed to accommodate the 5, 000 cars touring the canyon each day. Park managers were concerned about the resources within the park and visitor safety and experiences of the more than 15,000 people that tour the narrow canyon road each busy summer day to access scenery, hiking trails and Zion Lodge. Therefore, the best alternative to solving the problem was implementing a mandatory shuttle system. Shuttle System Shuttle Bus Benefits The clean-running propane buses are the lifeblood of a transportation plan that has restored tranquility to Zion Canyon. Present visitor use levels are somewhat regulated in the main canyon, and the shuttle system has eliminated much of the vehicle congestion, parking problems, and the cacophony in parking areas associated with raised voices, annoying car alarms and stereos, and doors and trunks slamming. Breath of Fresh Air Air quality is identified as a significant park resource. Zion’s clean air is affected by particulate matter sources, especially vehicle emissions. According to the 2001 Draft Report on Air Emissions Inventory for Zion National Park, the 2,994 individuals that used the shuttle daily during the first year of operation represent an elimination of 1,183 private vehicles from 10,877 miles of park roads each day. Advantages to using Propane vs. other Motor Fuels References Affected Wildlife Affected Flora Contact information Zion is the home to native wildlife such as mule deer, golden eagles and mountain lions.. Due to the noise and emissions generated by visitor’s automobiles, an imbalance in the park’s ecosystem was created, causing displacement of the park’s wildlife. Benefits of implementing the shuttle system:  More wildlife viewings  Less vehicle/animal accidents Threatened Species  Mexican Spotted Owl  Southwest Willow Fly-Catcher  Desert Tortoise Ashley Payne Georgia College & State University Milledgeville, GA 31061 lauren_payne@ecats.gcsu.edu OPTIONAL LOGO HERE By satisfying transportation needs within the park and lowering the environmental impact of over 6,000 vehicle trips per day to the park, the shuttles reduce parking, traffic congestion and vehicle emissions. Each shuttle departure saves 26 vehicle trips. Over 10,000 private vehicle miles are saved every day, and an added benefit is that the shuttles run on propane. In addition to decreasing CO2 emissions by over twelve tons per day, road maintenance costs are lower. Additional benefits include the shuttle’s ability to accommodate bikes, backpacks and kayaks. Due to heavy visitation, illegal parking and cut- through trails, some plants are a threatened species, such as the Shivwits Milkvetch. Since the rise in visitation, approximately 100 exotic species now call Zion home. While only 15 are of major concern, the help of the shuttle system has reduced the introduction of exotic plants. Above: Shivwits Milkvetch Liggett, D. T., (2002, Fall/Winter). Quiet in the Canyon. Sustainability news, 11-15. National Park Service. (2007). Zion National Park Profile. (NPS Publication No. ). Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office A recent study conducted by the Propane Council of Propane Exceptional Energy found plenty of advantages to using propane as a fleet fuel. 1.25 gallon of propane lasts longer than any other alternative fuel. 2.In conjunction with fleet use, it costs < gasoline. 3.Propane delivers up to 90% of gasoline’s miles/ gallon. Annual visitors riding the Zion Canyon Shuttle: The shuttle system was found to reduce on-road vehicle volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter emissions.