Traffic Congestion Management Plan

The National Park Service is proposing to implement a reservation system for Arches National Park to address pressing vehicle traffic and parking congestion that affect visitor enjoyment, visitor access, safety, and resource protection. This action is needed because it is currently difficult to accommodate vehicle traffic levels during peak times and peak seasons at the park entrance and at popular parking areas while providing quality visitor experiences and protecting the natural and cultural resources of the park.

The proposed reservation system aims to provide certainty to visitors in terms of ability and timing of park entry and to spread vehicle entries out over more hours of the day and more months of the year, in order to reduce wait times, reduce overflow parking, and reduce vehicle congestion on the entrance road.

This Environmental Assessment evaluates two alternatives: a no action alternative (alternative 1) and the proposed action (alternative 2) to implement a reservation system for entry. Implementation of the proposed action may result in impacts to visitor use and experience and to the local economy.

This Environmental Assessment has been prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508) and Director's Order 12: Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and Decision-making (NPS 2011) and its accompanying handbook (NPS 2015) to assess the alternatives and their impacts on the environment.

Please provide all comments by December 4, 2017. If you are unable to submit comments electronically through this website, then you may also submit written comments to the National Park Service, Attention: Planning and Compliance 2282 S. West Resource Blvd., Moab, UT 84532.

Document Content:

Traffic Congestion Management Plan EA.pdf   (13.2 MB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of Acrobat Reader from Adobe Systems.