Yosemite National Park received $1.3 million from the Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) to improve the transportation system within the park.
This funding is a portion of the $24.8 million announced by the FTA for
improvement of the public transportation in America’s national parks,
national forests, and wildlife refuges.

Yosemite will receive the funding from the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in
Parks Program in order to implement and improve the public transportation
system. Congress established the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program
to enhance the protection of national parks and federal lands and increase
the enjoyment of visitors to those sites.

In partnership with the Department of Interior, this program will also help
fund planning expenses for alternative transportation systems, such as
improved shuttle bus routes and the establishment of bicycle trails within
national parks.  The goals of the program are to reduce congestion during
the busy summer months in national parks, as well as to conserve the
natural, historical, and cultural resources.

“The funding from the Federal Transit Administration is very exciting news
for Yosemite National Park.  Yosemite is committed to ensuring long-term
stewardship through environmental leadership.  This program will continue
Yosemite’s efforts to reduce congestion in the park and better protect the
park’s natural resources,” said Superintendent Don Neubacher.

This $1.3 million funding will help Yosemite to post real-time updates on
the Park’s webpage to allow visitors to see actual traffic counts at all
entrances into the park.  In addition, it will also allow visitors to view
a model of traffic congestion throughout multiple locations within the
Park.

An additional $1.6 million in funding was given to the Yosemite Area
Regional Transit System (YARTS) to purchase three clean diesel buses.
YARTS has been operating in the Yosemite area since 2000 and has since
provided alternative travel into Yosemite for 515,000 riders.