5 Things You Need to Know About Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands

Why Alternative Fuels are Needed

People visit parks and public spaces to relax and escape from the trials of everyday life. However, there is still a need to drive or travel around these parks in vehicles, which have the same unfortunate effect on the park environment as they do elsewhere. Air pollution, traffic, smog, and an overall decrease in the health of the environment are not strong draws for visitors to parks. The Department of Transportation, working with the National Park Service and other organizations, has conducted studies to understand the necessities and options for alternative transportation in these areas.

The Purpose of Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands

Programs exist that allow states and local government agencies to apply for funding or new options for shuttles or other public transportation in their parks and public lands. Improving the natural environment while decreasing dependency on single vehicle transportation is part of the goal in these heavily visited areas.

How the Program Works

Applications are made by specific parks to the Federal Transportation Authority and the Department of the Interior to receive funds for increasing alternative transportation options. There is significant competition for dwindling available funds as the agencies struggle to balance the demand for monies with the available supply.

Projects in Place for this Program

According to the Federal Transportation Association, projects that support the Transportation in Parks and Public Lands Program are located in 22 states across the U.S. They run the gamut from planning studies to full-size fleet purchases. From purchasing new transit services to replacement of existing buses or shuttles, there are significant monies needed to continue the progress for these programs each year.

Who Can Apply

According to the Department of Transportation Program description, any federal land management agency or any state, tribal, or local government with land jurisdiction acting under the approval of a federal land management program can apply for bus, rail or "any other publicly or privately owned conveyance" that provides public transportation regularly. Applications are accepted yearly.

Tracie Close is a freelance writer for print and the web on eco-friendly topics. Her articles have been published in Saving American Manufacturing, Philadelphia Style Magazine, and High Tech, High Touch. She also has contributed numerous articles about green living for eHow.com.