ION NATIONAL PARK - Utah · 2018-03-07 · 2 OVERVIEW Zion National Park features over 220 square...
Transcript of ION NATIONAL PARK - Utah · 2018-03-07 · 2 OVERVIEW Zion National Park features over 220 square...
ZION NATIONAL PARK Hurricane to Springdale: Integrated Transportation Solutions Enhance Economic & Recreation Opportunities, Alleviate SR-9 Congestion
Trail Cost: $9 M
Annual Economic Benefit: $18 M
Job-Years Generated: 218
E-Bike Cost: $1.1 M
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OVERVIEW
Zion National Park features over 220 square miles of explorable land, showcasing unbelievable views of
natural rock, arches, formations, and picturesque landscapes. It also lies within a constrained
transportation corridor that is visited by nearly 4 million visitors every year. As we continue to enhance
the overall experience of visiting Zion, we will need a robust set of mobility options that are as dynamic
and diverse as the guests that visit Zion from all over the world.
This proposal is in response to alleviating congestion and providing economic benefits to Zion National
Park. It is a holistic integrated transportation approach that will bolster the transportation choices into
Zion National Park, while helping to alleviate SR9s congestion issues. An e-bikeshare system,
centralized park and ride lots, expedited bus networks and a world class trail facility will give a diverse
combination of solutions that will help alleviate congestion at Zion National Park in a manner that
enhances the economic development potential of the region and enriches the experience for visitors,
residents, and local communities.
The following elements of this proposal will help create a world class integrated transportation system
that will provide mobility options for guests and residents that are unprecedented at any National Park in
the United States.
THE CONCEPT
The journey to Zion National Park should be fun and convenient. This integrated transportation approach
will provide world-class options for guests to enhance the experience of arriving at Zion National Park.
The economic and recreational possibilities are endless with an integrated transportation approach to
visiting Zion. The transportation choices we provide, should be as diverse and exciting as our guests. In
his book Desert Solitaire, Edward Abbey said "A man on foot, on horseback or on a bicycle will see more,
feel more, enjoy more in one mile that the motorized tourists can in a hundred miles." This integrated
transportation approach will greatly enhance and expand the user experience of getting to Zion National
Park. Imagine visiting Zion and gradually experiencing a new side of southern Utah. Once you arrive in
any of the communities on the way to Zion, this adventure allows you to hop on e-bikes and explore the
contours of the Virgin river, experience nature first hand, and enjoy pit stops at local businesses in
communities along the way on your journey to Zion.
Imagine being with your family or friends and enjoying the trip into Zion on Electric Bike Share bicycles
(e-bikes), noticing the riverbed, geology and landscape changes that surround you. After a fun and
spectacular jaunt along the river, you suddenly find yourself at the gates of one of the most beautiful and
unique parks in the United States.
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Now that you have enjoyed your journey, you’re ready to enjoy your journey inside the Park. After a day
of hiking and enjoying the vistas, you hop on a bus to return back to the park and ride lot to start your
next adventure.
INTEGRATED TRANSPORTATION ELEMENTS
Trails
The Virgin River Trail is part of a vision
for an innovative and integrated
transportation approach to alleviating
traffic congestion and enhancing the
overall experience of visiting one of Utah's
premier National Parks. This element of
the proposal is to build a phased trail
system that follows the contours of the
Virgin River and connects Zion National
Park with the surrounding communities.
This trail system will allow users the
ability to directly access a national park
without finding themselves on a busy and
congested roadway. A connected trail
network of this size in a rural setting is
unprecedented and has the potential to cultivate economic and recreational opportunities along its entire
length.
This mixed-use trail is a fundamental element of this proposal. This trail will be integrated with park and
ride facilities and transit stations that will allow for ease of access and encourage a diverse user group
that is inclusive of all ages and abilities. Mixed-use trails not only provide a recreational outlet for local
residents, but they offer a unique experience for people visiting Zion. Currently, unless you are a
seasoned bicyclists and unbothered by traffic you can currently bike, but this facility will open the doors
for all ages: kids on strider bikes, parents with strollers, skateboards, those in wheelchairs or with
mobility impairments, equestrians, bicycles and e-bicycles. Building this accessible trail, that would serve
the mobility impaired, would be just another addition to Zion’s National Park accessible amenities
already in place.
This trail element of the plan can be done in phases with a community build-out done towards Zion and a
second phase that connects the network to St. George. Not only will this enhance quality of life for
residents and expand safe and healthy recreation options, it will increase the region as a more attractive
year-round bicycle and trail destination.
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The current proposal is to run the trail starting in Hurricane, running along part of the Virgin River, and
then following SR-9 through Virgin, Rockville and Springdale to the park entrance.
Electric Bike Share
Park City recently installed and is now operating the nation’s first electric bikeshare (e-bike) program.
The distances and topographical changes these bikes allow riders to traverse is dramatic and
empowering for visitors and offer a different experience. E-bikes dramatically reduce the skill or fitness
level necessary to bicycle to Zion and opens the door for all age groups and ability levels to enjoy.
Coupled with a world-class trail system that gives an opportunity to follow the contours of the Virgin
River and incrementally explore southern Utah's unique geology as they approach the national park and
visit local and family owned establishments throughout the SR9 corridor.
The e-bikeshare system can have kiosks that are coupled with transit centers along the SR9 corridor and
can be phased in their implementation. An initial launch of 200 e-bikes will allow users to easily use them
to quickly zip from community to community and access the park skipping roadway congestion and
simply docking them at their destination. Bike shares are becoming increasingly common and expected in
major tourism destinations. The e-bikeshare will also encourage other bicycle businesses to flourish
along the corridor. Mountain biking is already popular on Gooseberry Mesa and in Frog Hollow and this
trail could highlight access to these other mountain bike trail facilities.
Public Transportation
A public transportation option will enhance the experience of these guests as they arrive and travel
throughout the communities leading to Springdale. Many guests currently visit Zion on tour buses or in
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personal vehicles. This leaves the Park very congested and bottlenecked and leaves limited opportunities
for visitors to visit local businesses once they are in their vehicles or tour buses. Parking is hard to find
and excess vehicles overwhelm locals and consume precious public space in the small communities
leading to Zion. Given the sheer volume of visitors, public transportation linking St. George, Hurricane, La
Verkin, Rockville and Springdale will be necessary to help accommodate the current transportation
demands now and in the future.
Currently there are few options for visitors to access the park other than by private vehicle. A public
transportation system will give visitors stress-free mobility options as they plan their trip. The express
bus service will allow direct connections between St. George and Zion and allow visitors to experience
the best of both locations without the stress of driving, navigating and parking. It will also facilitate the
expansion of economic opportunities geared towards Zion visitors within St. George since guests will
have lodging and transportation options dispersed through the region.
Park and Ride Facilities
A key element of this integrated transportation proposal will be park and ride facilities. These help
encourage carpooling and provide a location for people to park remotely and pull congestion away from
the Zion National Park entrance and the small communities leading up to it. These park and ride facilities
can function as transportation hubs with bus stops, private shuttle service pickup, carpooling
opportunities, e-bikeshare or bicycle rentals with trailhead spurs for users to access the Virgin River
Trial. These park and ride facilities can be little gateways to adventure that help reduce congestion and
provide designated locations for vehicles to park so they don't overwhelm local communities.
IN CONCLUSION
This proposal is a well-rounded and integrated approach to assisting SR-9’s transportation issues leading
into Zion National Park. An e-bikeshare system and a world class trail facility offer a diverse combination
of solutions that will help alleviate congestion at Zion National Park and create an unparalleled economic
return on its investment as shown below.
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COSTS AND ECONOMIC BENEFIT
The total cost of the project is estimated to be approximately $10.1 million. However, using methods from
a recent study for estimating the economic benefits of active transportation projects, the total annual
economic output resulting from the project is estimated at $18 million.
Initial Installation Investment
Item Cost/Mile Miles Cost
New Trail Installed $439,000 20.5 $9,000,000
E-Bike Share System N/A N/A $1,100,000
Total Investment $10,100,000
Economic Return on Investment
Annual Economic Output Low Estimate Middle Estimate High Estimate
Total Annual Economic Output $9,000,000 $18,000,000 $27,000,000
Total Job-Years Generated 109 218 328
Total Annual Labor Income $2,700,000 $5,500,000 $8,300,000
OTHER PROPOSED PROJECTS
Project Estimated Cost
A. Sheep Bridge Road Paving $3,211,070
B. Big Plains Road (Gooseberry Mesa) paving $6,808,490
C. St. George to Springdale Transit $9,000,000
D. Park-and-Ride/Transit Stops -- St. George to Zion (250 Stalls) $500,000
E. Wayfinding and Visitor Information App
F. Park Data Natural Metering $2,000,000
G. Active Transportation Projects / Trail Connections $10,100,000
H. SR-9; Virgin Flats WB Passing Lane, MP 15.4 to 16.9 $2,950,000
I. SR-9; Laverkin Twists, Widen Shoulder, MP 12.6 to 14.36 $4,600,000
J. SR-9; Extend EB Passing Lane, MP 14.36 to 14.5 $560,000
K. SR-9; Paved Trail - Rockville to Springdale, MP 28.2 to 29.5 $800,000
L. SR-9; Ranch Road Intersection Improvements $200,000
M. SR-9; Laverkin Gun Range Access $300,000
N. SR-9; Signalized Ped Crossing at Virgin Post Office $160,000
Total $41,189,560