YELLOWSTONE N.P., MONT.- A version of the historic Yellow Bus, friendly to visitors and the environment, will return to Yellowstone National Park this spring-and it could one day be a celebrated fixture across the National Park System.
The modern-day version of the Yellow Bus-which in the 1930s was common in parks such as Yellowstone and Glacier-holds as many as 32 passengers, can run on alternative fuels, and has a low floor design that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The bus also features a retractable roof, offering visitors fresh air and a better view of the scenery, and it can double as a snow coach in the winter.
"The buses can adapt to all seasons," said Laura Loomis, NPCA's transportation director, "and they pioneer a comfortable and educational method to see and learn about parks. Many national parks and gateway communities could really benefit from them."
Supporters of the buses see them as alternatives to higher-impact vehicles, such as the noisy and polluting snowmobiles that roam Yellowstone in the winter months.
"Because they're quiet and driven by trained guides, buses will have less of an impact on air, wildlife, and the park's soundscape than snowmobiles," said Steve Bosak, NPCA's legislative officer.
The buses not only fit the Park Service's need for an all-season transit vehicle but also may be used for municipal and private-sector transportation, said Kerry Klingler, project manager of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory.
The multi-seasonal buses cost $175,000 each. Congress recently appropriated $1.9 million for six buses in Yellowstone, which will be operating this spring and then used as snow coaches next winter. NPCA is calling for increased congressional funding for buses in other parks to offer visitor-friendly transportation and alleviate traffic congestion. Similar shuttle systems have been successful at national parks such as Zion and Acadia.
"We strongly support the expansion of alternative transportation in parks where there's a need for it," said Bosak. "People are realizing that there's got to be a better way to see a park than sitting in a traffic jam."
Legislation now before both the House of Representatives and Senate addresses needs for alternative transportation in parks-and could authorize as much as $90 million to pay for new buses and shuttle systems.
"The buses are ready to provide an attractive option for visitors seeing our national treasures," said Loomis. "All that is needed is more funding from Congress."
