[altasnob]

Everyone throws out far fetched unrealistic ideas like trams, shuttles, and expanded parking lots. None of these will happen anytime soon, if ever. All the land 10 feet away from the roads is wilderness so that eliminates trams and big parking lots. Shuttles work in theory but you have to purchase land outside the park and then the shuttle themselves would be traveling very far, much farther than in other national parks. I have no faith MRNP can pull off an effective shuttle system. What I fear is that they impose a mandatory ineffective shuttle system, and it will prevent people like me from showing up at 6:45 am, cruising through the gate with no wait, and hiking on a less used trail in solitude. Instead, you will have to wait 30+ minutes on each end of the hike for the shuttle. And then they will cancel shuttle runs for labor shortage issues just like they did for winter access. So imposing a shuttle means cutting off access to the park. The status quo is not bad at all. It is bad if you think you should be able roll up at 11 am on a beautiful sunny August day and you should be allowed to drive right up to Paradise and park. But if you adjust your expectations and strategies, it is an amazing park where you can find solitude any day of the year. But people just love to complain.

[Kim Brown]

I bet the gateway towns like Enumclaw and Greenwood, etc. and the county could collaborate and cobble together a deal on land for parking. Those communities could benefit from shuttle clients; instead of zipping by the towns in their cars, they will be at the parking lot. That process would slow them down, they chat about where to eat, a place for a souvenir, espresso drink, before heading back to their motel, or home. I'm sure there are barriers, and perhaps this isn't a reasonable idea; I'm no expert. But a shuttle service is certainly worth a comment in their process. I admit I haven't read all the alternatives and discussion of what has been already rejected, so there may be something in the docs about it already...

[altasnob]

Those proposals would mean a shuttle of 50 miles. What's the longest shuttle at the moment in the National Park system? How much elevation does the shuttle go up (a Rainier shuttle would go up several thousand feet in elevation). I believe there are already private shuttles from Enumclaw up to Sunrise. That seems like a much better solution. Those who are willing to wake up early get to drive up to Sunrise without crowds. Those who want to sleep in can take the private shuttle. I'd be ok with the private shuttle being being able to bypass the gate line to offer an incentive to take that instead of try to drive. What I fear is the masses will comment saying it is too crowded and they want shuttles. MRNP will listen to the masses, shut down access to the park, and force everyone to take a shuttle that runs very infrequently, is horrendously slow, and is often canceled.

[Kim Brown]

[Stefan]

Shuttles. Like Zion. I would say Fridays-Sundays. Other than that then status quo.

[kiliki]

[altasnob]

[Kim Brown]

[altasnob]

[altasnob]

[kiliki]

We aren't talking about replacing driving. The goal is, reduce entrance lines, reduce traffic, allow people to visit Paradise and Sunrise. It would be perfect for so many tourists.

[altasnob]

[kiliki]

[kiliki]

[altasnob]