# Presentation: 361044

## Assessing Needs and Identifying Opportunities for ITS Applications in California’s National Parks

- Presented at 83rd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
- January 11-15, 2004 – Washington, DC
- Christopher Strong, P.E. – WTI, Montana State UniversityJaime Helmuth – WTI, Montana State UniversityShawn Turner, P.E. – Texas Transportation Institute

## Overview

- Background
- Project Objectives
- Park Selection
- Outreach and Visitor Surveys
- ITS Themes
- Next Steps and Future Research

## Challenges/Context

- National parks’ key role in California
- 33 million visitors in 2001
- Significant economic impact
- Increasing visitation
- Channel Islands NP – 175% over 10 years
- Joshua Tree NP – 64% over 15 years
- Point Reyes NS – 67% over 20 years

- Source: _[http://www.eng.uci.edu/student/alberto/trips/joshua_tree/](http://www.eng.uci.edu/student/alberto/trips/joshua_tree/)_

## Three-legged Stool

- Transportation System

- Resource Protection

- Visitor Experience

- Park Mission

## Project Objectives

- Explore potential of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) to address challenges in California’s National Parks
- Tasks
- Identify case studies
- Park outreach and visitor surveys
- Develop ITS themes
- Document findings

## Case Study Park 1:Golden Gate Natl. Rec. Area

- Large urban park
- Alcatraz
- Marin Headlands
- Muir Woods
- Presidio
- 14 million visitors annually
- Popular activities include hiking, biking, visiting historic military facilities, horseback riding, going to the beach, and ocean sports

- Map: _[http://www.nps.gov](http://www.nps.gov/)_

## Case Study Park 2:Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP

- Large rural park
- Sequoia groves
- High Sierras
- Glacial canyons
- Caverns
- Generals Highway
- 1.3 million visitors per year
- Activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, camping, and informative educational programs

- Map: _[http://www.gorp.com](http://www.gorp.com/)__  _

## Outreach and Visitor Surveys

- Outreach meetings at each park
- Visitor surveys
- Focus on visitor information needs
- Peak, off-peak and shoulder
- On-site intercept at select sites
- Detailed mailback instrument

## Survey Findings:Demographics and Technology

- Mean respondent
- Caucasian
- Approximately 50 years old
- Relatively high income and education levels
- Technology
- Most owned computers, had Internet access and cell phones
- Smaller percentage owned PDAs and/or GPS units

## Survey Findings:Mode Choice

- Mode split
- Private auto: 69% at SEKI; 44% at GGNRA
- Rental cars: 19% at SEKI; 40% at GGNRA
- Attitudes on transit
- Shuttle, transit and park & ride options rated more favorably at GGNRA
- Used transit in last year: 43% at SEKI; 72% at GGNRA
- Respondents with experience using transit had favorable attitudes toward its use in National Parks

## Survey Findings:Traveler Information

- Common information types:
- General park information (operating hours, etc.)
- Information on park activities
- Travel time estimates
- Information on weather conditions
- Most information obtained prior to arrival
- SEKI visitors use web or phone
- GGNRA visitors use visitor center or hotel, or talk to locals
- Appropriateness
- Tour books, visitor center kiosks, information from friends and family, and rangers were considered most appropriate
- Electronic signs, commercial radio/TV and Internet terminals were scored lowest

## Survey Findings:Implications of Results

- Internet appears to be a viable way to reach large numbers of visitors before reaching the park
- Parking areas perceived as most congested
- Pre-trip information
- Transit access
- Optional, free shuttles are acceptable
- Other alternatives – fee-based shuttle or mandatory shuttle – could be acceptable over time

## Transportation Problems:Golden Gate Natl Rec Area

- Roadway congestion
- Inadequate access
- Limited parking
- Coordinate transit service and improve transit information
- Lack of planning data
- Traveler information
- Coordination on work zones and special events
- Evacuation and emergency response

## Transportation Problems:Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP

- Parking lots
- Transit system
- Weather concerns
- Queues at entrance stations
- Incidents or forest fires along Generals Highway
- Work zones
- Information about campgrounds and reservations
- Air quality issues
- Roadway congestion
- Park roadways

## ITS Themes Framework

- ITS Objectives

- Transportation Problems

- National ITS Architecture User Services

- National ITS Architecture Market Pkgs.

- Benefits of ITS Objectives Being Met

- ITS Themes

## ITS Themes:Golden Gate Natl. Rec. Area

- Roadway Congestion Forecasting
- Parking Management and Information
- Parking Intercept
- Transit Trip Planner
- Data Collection and Storage
- Pre-trip Traveler Information
- Major Emergency Response

## ITS Themes:Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP

- Parking Management and Information
- Transit Service and Traveler Information
- Weather and Road Condition Information
- Electronic Entrance Fee Collection
- Road Monitoring and Incident Management
- Road Construction Information and Coordination
- Campground Reservations and Information
- Emissions Monitoring
- Oversize Vehicle Detection

## ITS Themes:Other California Natl. Parks

- Park Reservation System
- Park Vehicle Capacity
- Winter Road Opening
- NPS/Gateway Community Smart Card
- Virtual Ranger

- Source: _[http://www.americansouthwest.net/california/lassen_volcanic/snow.html](http://www.americansouthwest.net/california/lassen_volcanic/snow.html)_

## Next Steps

- Park outreach video
- Measures of effectiveness for ITS in national park setting
- Case study of integrating national park ITS projects into a regional ITS architecture
- Demonstration and preliminary evaluation of early-winner projects in GGNRA and SEKI

## Future Research

- Defining information needs at other national parks
- Integrate tourism and transportation information, especially through 511
- Improving dissemination of real-time information to national park visitors
- Examine economic impact of parks on gateway communities
- Evaluating effectiveness of ITS projects in national parks
- Developing guidelines for context-sensitive ITS design

## Any Questions?

- Christopher Strong, P.E.Research EngineerWestern Transportation InstituteMontana State University-BozemanPO Box 174250Bozeman, MT 59717-4250Phone: (406) 994-7351Fax: (406) 994-1697e-mail: _[ChrisS@coe.montana.edu](mailto:ChrisS@coe.montana.edu)__ _