**Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands**

**Background**

Section 3021 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) established
the Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands (ATPPL) program
in August 2005. Codified in 49 USC 5320, the new program is administered
by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in partnership with the
Department of the Interior (DOI) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Forest Service. In December 2005, Congress appropriated \$21,780,000 for
the program's first year, fiscal year 2006.

The ATPPL program funds capital and planning expenses for alternative
transportation systems such as shuttle buses in national parks and other
federal lands. Federal land management agencies and State, local, and
tribal governments are eligible recipients. The goals of the program are
to conserve natural, historical, and cultural resources; reduce
congestion and pollution; improve visitor mobility and accessibility;
enhance visitor experience; and ensure access to all, including persons
with disabilities.

Section 5320 stipulates that the Secretary of Transportation annually
submit a report on the allocation of ATPPL program funds. The section
further stipulates that this report be part of FTA's Annual Report on
Funding Recommendations. As such, this section of the Annual Report on
Funding Recommendations describes FTA's overall progress in developing
this new program, details the 42 alternative transportation projects
funded in the program's first year, and notes the technical assistance
activities sponsored thus far.

**Program Development**

As this was the first year of the program, FTA and its interagency
partners created the mechanisms for implementing the new program. FTA
and the Department of the Interior (DOI) formed an interagency working
group with representatives of the National Park Service (NPS), the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service.[^1] The working
group jointly developed program structure, selection criteria, a
solicitation and evaluation process for applications, a process for
selecting applications for funding, and grant and reimbursable agreement
funding mechanisms. In cooperation with inter-agency partners, FTA staff
developed program requirements and an oversight program to ensure proper
use of federal funds. Finally, FTA staff, working with inter-agency
partners, developed initial technical assistance, research, and planning
activities to support the program.

**Project Evaluation and Funding**

As demand far exceeded available funds, FTA's planning and policy staff
worked closely with federal land management agency representatives to
develop a process that would select the most meritorious projects --
those that were both strong transportation projects and best met the
unique needs of federal lands. A total of 78 proposals were received
totaling \$40.5 million, approximately twice the amount available for
projects, indicating high competition for funds. An interagency
technical review committee carefully evaluated the project proposals
based on the criteria defined in 49 USC 5320(g)(2).  Then, as specified
in Section 5320(g), the Secretary of the Interior's designee determined
the final selection of projects after consultation with and in
cooperation with the Secretary of Transportation's designee.[^2]

On August 28, 2006, FTA and the Department of the Interior announced the
first round of projects to receive funding through the program, which
are listed in Table 1. The 42 alternative transportation projects
selected for funding represent a diverse set of capital and planning
projects across the country. For example, the awards will help finance
the purchase of alternative-fuel trams for the Back Bay National
Wildlife Refuge in Virginia, shuttle buses for California's San Joaquin
Valley to Sequoia National Park, and the planning of an alternative
transportation system for the Forest Service's Midewin National
Tallgrass Prairie in Illinois.

FTA awarded the program's first grant on September 7, 2006. The grant
funds a new shuttle service from a nearby town to the popular Sequoia
National Park in California. The shuttle service will allow the
thousands of visitors who pass through the valley on their way to the
park to take public transportation rather than use private automobiles.
Financial assistance through the program will also fund the lease of ten
shuttle buses connecting key sites within Sequoia National Park --
lodging, camping, food service facilities, popular day use trails, and
features of the world-famous Giant Forest Sequoia grove. Shuttle
ridership is estimated to reduce vehicular traffic by up to 925 cars
daily, easing congestion in Level of Service D areas, and up to 47
percent within the popular Giant Forest / Generals Highway / Lodgepole
area. An estimated 3,703 daily visitors (35% of the visitors) will use
the Giant Forest shuttle, removing 50.3 tons of pollutants from the air
in this air quality non-attainment area.

This illustrates the program's potential impact within just one of the
federal land management units receiving funding through the ATPPL
program. The information below gives a breakdown of the types of
projects funded and Table 1 provides a complete breakdown of the
allocation of fiscal year 2006 ATPPL funds.

*Planning vs Capital Projects*

Twenty-five of the projects (totaling \$16 million) are capital projects
and 17 (totaling \$3.6 million) are planning projects. The bulk of the
program dollars are used primarily to fund capital investments with a
smaller amount devoted to planning for future projects, in order to
ensure the wise use of federal dollars to fund additional capital
projects in the future years of the 2006-2009 authorization period.

*Distribution by Federal Land Management Agency*

As predicted by the August 2001 DOT-DOI study on alternative
transportation needs in public lands, the National Park Service had the
highest need for alternative transportation. The National Park Service
has the most existing alternative transportation systems and has had an
alternative transportation program in place since 1997. Fifty-seven
percent of project funds are allocated towards projects serving National
Parks, 35 percent are for projects serving National Forests, and 8
percent are for projects serving Fish and Wildlife Refuges.

*Distribution by Type of Recipient*

Fifteen projects were awarded through direct grants to individual State
and local governments who are listed as funding recipients in Table 1.
The other 27 projects are funded through reimbursable interagency
agreements with each of the three Federal land management agencies that
received funds.

*Types of Projects*

SAFETEA-LU allows a broad range of projects under this new program. The
types of projects selected include purchase of buses for new transit
service, replacement of old buses and trams, ferry dock replacement,
infrastructure design, intelligent transportation system components, and
planning studies.

*New vs. Existing Systems*

The awards include funding for both existing alternative transportation
systems -- through projects such as purchasing replacement buses -- and
funding for brand new systems. This enables the program to support the
continued quality of existing alternative transportation systems such as
those in Acadia National Park and Grand Canyon National Park, which were
earlier pilot projects for DOT and DOI collaboration on alternative
transportation. It also enables the program to fund brand new systems --
such as the new tram system to the San Juan National Historic Site in
Puerto Rico and planning for potential transit service in Mt. Hood
National Forest.

As the program is in its first year, the majority of capital projects
for fiscal year 2006 are for existing systems. The planning projects may
develop capital projects for either existing or new systems in fiscal
years 2007-2009.

*Geographic Balance*

The projects are located in 21 different states and in Puerto Rico.
There are projects in all major geographic regions -- northeast, south,
mid-west, and west.

*Urban vs. Rural Balance*

The list includes projects in both rural and urban areas. Thirteen out
of the 42 projects are located in urban or suburban areas, with the
remainder in rural areas. The list also includes projects that provide
transportation from urban areas to parks and public lands in outlying
rural areas.

*Project Size*

The size of the projects varies considerably from \$40,000-\$80,000
planning studies to bus fleet purchases for \$400,000 to \$1,400,000.
Dock replacement and rail projects are also large ticket items.
Twenty-two projects are under \$250,000, 9 projects are between
\$250,000 and \$500,000, and 11 projects are above \$500,000. By
statute, no single project can receive more then 25 percent of the
program funds in any given year.

**Technical Assistance, Research, and Planning**

49 USC 5320 allows the Department of Transportation, in consultation
with the Department of the Interior, to use not more than ten percent of
program funds for technical assistance, research, and planning
activities to support the program as a whole. By November of 2006, FTA
has used less then 1 percent of these funds to develop a program manual,
host a "webinar"-style workshop, contract for support for the evaluation
process, and provide technical assistance in transportation planning.
FTA is developing comprehensive technical assistance for land management
units and transit providers for FY 2007, using the remaining program
funds.

**Table 1: Allocation of Fiscal Year 2006 ATPPL Funds**

Capital and Planning Alternative Transportation Projects

  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  **State**   **Public Land Unit**        **Agency**   **Funding        **Type of         **Project             **FY 2006
                                                       Recipient**      Project**         Description**         Funding**
  ----------- --------------------------- ------------ ---------------- ----------------- --------------------- ------------------
  AK          Chugach National Forest     Forest       Alaska Railroad  Railroad          Purchase Diesel       \$4,700,000
                                          Service                                         Multiple Unit Rail    
                                                                                          vehicles to provide   
                                                                                          rail service to       
                                                                                          recreation areas in   
                                                                                          Chugach National      
                                                                                          Forest.               

  AK          Glacier Bay National Park   National     State of Alaska  Boat Dock         Replace the existing  \$1,200,000
              and Preserve                Park Service                                    passenger and freight 
                                                                                          dock.                 

  AZ          Grand Canyon National Park  National     National Park    Bus               Rebuild the Hermits   \$733,050
                                          Park Service Service                            Road Shuttle Bus      
                                                                                          transfer area.        

  CA          Inyo National Forest,       Forest       Forest Service   Planning Study    Feasibility study for \$167,000
              Devils Postpile National    Service                                         implementation of a   
              Monument                                                                    sustainable           
                                                                                          transportation system 
                                                                                          for Reds              
                                                                                          Meadow/Devils         
                                                                                          Postpile.             

  CA          Muir Woods National         National     National Park    Intelligent       Design and build      \$490,000
              Monument/Golden Gate        Park Service Service          Transportation    electronic warning    
              National Recreation Area                                  System            signs, traffic        
                                                                                          counters, highway     
                                                                                          advisory radio, web   
                                                                                          cameras, a            
                                                                                          centralized           
                                                                                          management software   
                                                                                          package, and other    
                                                                                          equipment as          
                                                                                          necessary.            

  CA          Muir Woods National         National     National Park    Planning Study    Secure consultant     \$500,000
              Monument/Golden Gate        Park Service Service                            services for planning 
              National Recreation Area                                                    effort to address     
                                                                                          visitor access issues 
                                                                                          at Muir Woods         
                                                                                          National Monument     
                                                                                          (managed by Golden    
                                                                                          Gate National         
                                                                                          Recreation Area).     

  CA          Point Reyes National        National     National Park    Planning Study    Fund an               \$175,000
              Seashore                    Park Service Service                            implementation        
                                                                                          feasibility study and 
                                                                                          financial plan for    
                                                                                          the upgrade of an     
                                                                                          existing park shuttle 
                                                                                          system to an          
                                                                                          alternate-fuel system 
                                                                                          for the heavily       
                                                                                          visited Point Reyes   
                                                                                          Headlands.            

  CA          San Francisco Maritime      National     National Park    Planning Study    Planning to extend    \$300,000
              National Historical Park    Park Service Service                            San Francisco         
              and Golden Gate National                                                    Municipal Railway\'s  
              Recreation Area                                                             Historic streetcars   
                                                                                          from Fisherman\'s     
                                                                                          Wharf 0.85 mile to    
                                                                                          San Francisco         
                                                                                          Maritime National     
                                                                                          Historic Park and the 
                                                                                          Fort Mason Center at  
                                                                                          Golden Gate Nat\'l    
                                                                                          Recreation Area.      

  CA          Sequoia and Kings Canyon    National     National Park    Bus               Lease busses for the  \$165,000
              National Park               Park Service Service                            Giant Forest Shuttle  
                                                                                          and Gateway Shuttle   
                                                                                          Link to connect key   
                                                                                          sites within Sequoia  
                                                                                          National Park         
                                                                                          lodging, camping,     
                                                                                          food service          
                                                                                          facilities, popular   
                                                                                          day use trails, and   
                                                                                          features of the       
                                                                                          world-famous Giant    
                                                                                          Forest Sequoia grove. 

  CA          Sequoia and Kings Canyon    National     City of Visalia  Bus               Purchase five shuttle \$400,000
              National Park               Park Service                                    busses for the City   
                                                                                          of Visalia to run a   
                                                                                          new service from the  
                                                                                          San Joaquin Valley to 
                                                                                          popular Sequoia       
                                                                                          National Park.        

  CA          Yosemite National Park      National     Yosemite Area    Park and Ride Lot Construct two park    \$582,579
                                          Park Service Regional Transit                   and ride lots to      
                                                       System (YARTS)                     allow visitors to     
                                                                                          park and use the      
                                                                                          YARTS service to      
                                                                                          access the national   
                                                                                          park, mitigating      
                                                                                          congestion within the 
                                                                                          park.                 

  CA          Yosemite National park      National     National Park    Planning Study    Update traffic,       \$486,000
                                          Park Service Service                            transit, parking, and 
                                                                                          intersection counts;  
                                                                                          2) update existing    
                                                                                          trip tables; 3)       
                                                                                          update and complete   
                                                                                          computer models; 4)   
                                                                                          evaluate the          
                                                                                          relationships between 
                                                                                          transportation and    
                                                                                          park experience; 5)   
                                                                                          correlate visitor     
                                                                                          experience with       
                                                                                          traffic data.         

  CO          Mesa Verde National Park    National     National Park    Planning Study    Fund the remaining    \$57,868
                                          Park Service Service                            planning tasks and    
                                                                                          allow the             
                                                                                          Transportation Plan   
                                                                                          to be completed in    
                                                                                          early 2007.           

  CO          Rocky Mountain Arsenal      Fish and     City of Commerce Planning Study    Conduct a shuttle     \$40,000
              National Wildlife Refuge    Wildlife     City                               feasibility study     
                                          Service                                         that would determine  
                                                                                          if a shuttle is       
                                                                                          needed.               

  CO          The Maroon Bells - Snowmass Forest       Roaring Forks    Bus               Purchase four buses   \$1,680,000
              Wilderness Area, White      Service      Transit                            to expand transit     
              River National Forest,                   Authority                          service to visitors.  
              Colorado                                                                                          

  FL          Ding Darling National       Fish and     Lee County       Planning Study    Planning, technical   \$700,000
              Wildlife Refuge             Wildlife     Transit                            analyses, and         
                                          Service                                         coordination of       
                                                                                          transportation        
                                                                                          system.               

  HI          Hawaii Volcanoes National   National     National Park    Planning Study    Data                  \$120,000
              Park                        Park Service Service                            collection/studies    
                                                                                          and resource surveys  
                                                                                          for potential         
                                                                                          alternative           
                                                                                          transportation system 
                                                                                          along two primary     
                                                                                          roads where           
                                                                                          congestion and        
                                                                                          over-crowding are     
                                                                                          causing resource      
                                                                                          damage and            
                                                                                          compromising visitor  
                                                                                          safety and            
                                                                                          experience.           

  ID, WY      Grand Teton National Park   National     National Park    Planning Study    Create a Public       \$99,934
                                          Park Service Service                            Transportation        
                                                                                          Business Plan for     
                                                                                          public transportation 
                                                                                          service in Grand      
                                                                                          Teton National Park.  

  IL          Midewin National Tallgrass  Forest       Forest Service   Planning Study    Develop an            \$256,600
              Prairie                     Service                                         alternative           
                                                                                          transportation system 
                                                                                          plan for the prairie. 

  KS          Tall Grass Prairie National National     National Park    Bus               Replace two existing  \$280,000
              Preserve                    Park Service Service                            buses used for park   
                                                                                          tours.                

  MA          Cape Cod National Seashore  National     Cape Cod         Bus/Intelligent   Purchase ITS          \$175,000
                                          Park Service Regional Transit Transportation    communication         
                                                       Authority        System            equipment to allow    
                                                                                          timed transfers and   
                                                                                          coordination of local 
                                                                                          transit service.      

  MA          Cape Cod National Seashore  National     National Park    Planning Study    Define the needs and  \$200,000
                                          Park Service Service                            evaluate alternative  
                                                                                          satellite             
                                                                                          maintenance/storage   
                                                                                          sites for a transit   
                                                                                          service to be         
                                                                                          implemented.          

  MA          Cape Cod National Seashore  National     National Park    Tram              Replace three         \$400,000
                                          Park Service Service                            trailers for trams to 
                                                                                          transport visitors to 
                                                                                          destinations within   
                                                                                          and near the National 
                                                                                          Seashore.             

  MA          Lowell National Historical  National     National Park    Railroad          Address safety        \$338,000
              Park                        Park Service Service                            issues: 1)            
                                                                                          signalization of      
                                                                                          grade crossings, 2)   
                                                                                          rehabilitate trolley  
                                                                                          bridge, 3) replace    
                                                                                          deteriorated railroad 
                                                                                          ties and substandard  
                                                                                          rails.                

  MA          Parker River National       Fish and     Essex National   Planning Study    Develop a plan to     \$95,000
              Wildlife Refuge, Essex      Wildlife     Heritage                           complete safe,        
              County National Heritage    Service      Commission                         off-road connections  
              Area, MA DCR Sandy Point                                                    between the           
                                                                                          Newburyport MBTA      
                                                                                          Transit Center, the   
                                                                                          Refuge Headquarters   
                                                                                          and the Refuge.       

  MD          Patuxent Research Refuge    Fish and     Fish and         Tram              Rehabilitate existing \$108,639
                                          Wildlife     Wildlife Service                   prototype electric    
                                          Service                                         tram and tram tour    
                                                                                          route.                

  ME          Acadia National Park        National     Maine Department Bus               Purchase two vans     \$120,000
                                          Park Service of                                 with trailers for     
                                                       Transportation                     bicycles for          
                                                                                          Acadia\'s Island      
                                                                                          Explorer transit      
                                                                                          system, allowing      
                                                                                          visitors to better    
                                                                                          access recreation     
                                                                                          opportunities in the  
                                                                                          park without private  
                                                                                          cars.                 

  ME          Acadia National Park        National     Maine Department Bus               Replace eight propane \$1,400,000
                                          Park Service of                                 powered buses for     
                                                       Transportation                     Acadia\'s Island      
                                                                                          Explorer transit      
                                                                                          system, which         
                                                                                          connects visitor      
                                                                                          destinations in the   
                                                                                          park with             
                                                                                          campgrounds, motels,  
                                                                                          and community         
                                                                                          business districts.   

  NJ          Gateway National Recreation National     National Park    Planning Study    Fund a planning study \$150,000
              Area - Sandy Hook           Park Service Service                            to assess needs and   
                                                                                          establish a set of    
                                                                                          integrated            
                                                                                          intelligent           
                                                                                          transportation system 
                                                                                          (ITS)                 
                                                                                          parking/traveling     
                                                                                          information systems   
                                                                                          requirements.         

  NY          Roosevelt-Vanderbilt        National     National Park    Planning Study    Design a three-year   \$68,000
              National Historic Sites     Park Service Service                            phased field-test of  
                                                                                          an alternative        
                                                                                          transportation system 
                                                                                          that links the four   
                                                                                          park sites with the   
                                                                                          Town Center and the   
                                                                                          Poughkeepsie Train    
                                                                                          Station; structure a  
                                                                                          regional ATS          
                                                                                          partnership.          

  OH          Cuyahoga Valley National    National     National Park    Design            Prepare design        \$170,000
              Park                        Park Service Service                            documents to allow    
                                                                                          for upgrade of        
                                                                                          railroad signals at   
                                                                                          grade crossings of    
                                                                                          Cuyahoga Valley       
                                                                                          Scenic Railroad.      

  OH          Cuyahoga Valley National    National     National Park    Design            Develop plans to      \$185,000
              Park                        Park Service Service                            rehabilitate existing 
                                                                                          rail in Cuyahoga      
                                                                                          National Park.        

  OH          Cuyahoga Valley National    National     National Park    Maintenance       Purchase a railroad   \$170,000
              Park                        Park Service Service          Vehicle           maintenance vehicle   
                                                                                          to maintain 51 miles  
                                                                                          of railroad track.    

  OH          Cuyahoga Valley National    National     Cuyahoga Valley  Railroad          Purchase an           \$373,000
              Park                        Park Service Scenic Railroad                    additional ADA        
                                                                                          accessible railcar.   

  OR          Lewis and Clark National    National     Sunset Empire    Bus               Fund shuttle bus      \$50,000
              Historical Park             Park Service Transportation                     leasing from the      
                                                       District                           park\'s partner,      
                                                                                          Sunset Empire Transit 
                                                                                          District.             

  OR          Mt. Hood National Forest    Forest       Oregon           Planning Study    Planning for a new    \$100,000
                                          Service      Department of                      alternative           
                                                       Transportation                     transportation system 
                                                                                          to provide            
                                                                                          transportation to and 
                                                                                          within Mt. Hood       
                                                                                          National Forest in    
                                                                                          order to reduce       
                                                                                          congestion on US      
                                                                                          Highway 26.           

  PR          San Juan National Historic  National     Codevisa Transit Bus               Purchase two small    \$640,000
              Site                        Park Service with                               trams that would be   
                                                       municipality of                    operated by the       
                                                       San Juan                           municipality of San   
                                                                                          Juan to provide       
                                                                                          transportation        
                                                                                          between the two       
                                                                                          forts.                

  TX          Santa Ana National Wildlife Fish and     Fish and         Bus               Replace current tram  \$510,000
              Refuge                      Wildlife     Wildlife Service                   at Santa Ana National 
                                          Service                                         Wildlife Refuge.      

  VA          Back Bay National Wildlife  Fish and     Fish and         Tram              Purchase two          \$160,000
              Refuge                      Wildlife     Wildlife Service                   alternative-fueled    
                                          Service                                         specialty trams that  
                                                                                          will replace the      
                                                                                          antiquated tram       
                                                                                          system presently used 
                                                                                          to transport visitors 
                                                                                          through Back Bay      
                                                                                          National Wildlife     
                                                                                          Refuge to adjoining   
                                                                                          False Cape State      
                                                                                          Park.                 

  VA          Shenandoah National Park    National     National Park    Bus               Purchase an ADA       \$60,000
                                          Park Service Service                            accessible bus to     
                                                                                          replace existing      
                                                                                          leased vehicle.       

  VT          Marsh-Billing-Rockefeller   National     National Park    Planning Study    Perform a fiscal      \$78,500
              National Historical Park    Park Service Service                            analysis study that   
              and Town of Woodstock                                                       will investigate a    
                                                                                          system to shuttle     
                                                                                          visitors, including   
                                                                                          elderly and mobility  
                                                                                          impaired, from points 
                                                                                          within the Woodstock  
                                                                                          community to the park 
                                                                                          visitor center.       

  WA          North Cascades National     National     National Park    Bus               Purchase 4 buses to   \$947,000
              Park                        Park Service Service                            replace old buses     
                                                                                          that transport        
                                                                                          visitors within the   
                                                                                          Lake Chelan National  
                                                                                          Recreation Area.      

              **TOTAL**                                                                                         **\$19,631,170**
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Oversight**

  -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
  **Activity**                                                   **FY 2006
                                                                 Funding**

  FTA oversight of funded projects, reserved per 49 USC. 5327 c  **\$108,900**
  (1)(F)[^3][^4]                                                 
  -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------

**Technical Assistance, Research, and Planning**

+--------------------------------------------------------------+-------+
| **Activity**                                                 | **FY  |
|                                                              | 2006  |
|                                                              | Fund  |
|                                                              | ing** |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+-------+
| Contract with Volpe National Transportation Systems Center   | \$15  |
| to provide the following technical assistance to support the | 0,000 |
| program:                                                     |       |
|                                                              |       |
| -   Develop and publish a program manual                     |       |
|                                                              |       |
| -   Conduct a "webinar"-style workshop to provide            |       |
|     information about the program to federal lands units and |       |
|     state, local, and tribal governments                     |       |
|                                                              |       |
| -   Assist in the project evaluation process                 |       |
|                                                              |       |
| -   Conduct on-site technical assistance in transportation   |       |
|     planning at two pilot sites                              |       |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+-------+
| Reserved for other technical assistance, research, and       | \     |
| planning activities                                          | $1,88 |
|                                                              | 9,930 |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+-------+
| Total                                                        | **\$2 |
|                                                              | ,039, |
|                                                              | 930** |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+-------+

**Total \$21,780,000**

[^1]: The Bureau of Reclamation opted not to participate in the program
    for fiscal years 2006 and 2007.

[^2]: The designees were the Department of the Interior's Deputy
    Assistant Secretary for Policy and the Department of
    Transportation's Federal Transit Administrator.

[^3]: 49 USC 5327 c (1)(F) makes available 0.5% of ATPPL program funds
    for FTA oversight of the projects funded through the program.

[^4]: