Grand Teton National Park completed its Transportation Plan! On April 18, 2007 the National Park Service released the final Record of Decision for the Transportation Plan Environmental Impact Statement. This was the last step needed in the mandatory environmental review process to complete the Plan.  This decision, combined with substantial approved funding for the first phases, will allow Grand Teton to move forward quickly to begin constructing the approved 41.3-mile pathways system and other transportation elements.

Friends of Pathways believes this is a visionary decision that will provide an excellent set of transportation choices for visitors, locals, and park employees.  It will enhance park access and improve visitor experience to Grand Teton, all while better protecting park resources for future generations to enjoy.

We are thankful for the significant time and support you, our members, contributed during the process. By attending meetings and writing comment letters, you helped greatly with this highly positive decision. With your support, Friends of Pathways has been able to devote significant effort to this planning process over the past ten years.

Construction will be in phases.  The first will be from Moose to South Jenny Lake, second will be to connect North Jenny and String Lake.  The third phase is from the South Entrance to Moose. Phases will be based upon the results of monitoring, environmental impact analysis, visitor use patterns, and other factors relevant to system construction and use.

In addition to the multi-use pathway opportunities, the ROD also calls for a transit business study to identify opportunities for a future, sustainable public transit service throughout the park.

Key elements in the Record of Decision:

• Construct a 41.3-mile new pathways system
• Continue to study public transit options
• Improve pedestrian facilities in park developed areas
• Provide improved traveler information
• Manage motor vehicle traffic more efficiently and safely
• Instate mitigation measures and monitoring to protect park resources and wildlife
• Better integrate park travel with the Jackson Hole gateways
• Enhance visitor experience and park accessibility

Download Record of Decison Documents
	Record of Decision Press Release	31 KB
	Final EIS Record of Decision Document	600 KB
	Map - Grand Teton NP Transportation Plan	3.6 MB

Currently, access to Grand Teton National Park is unbalanced, limited almost exclusively to private motor vehicles.  This has created congestion and safety problems, damaged resources, and reduced visitor enjoyment. Visitors to Grand Teton National Park are increasingly seeking transportation alternatives for a more sustainable national park experience, a fact we should encourage to benefit both the park and its millions of annual visitors. 

The Transportation Plan decision will fundamentally change this current situation. Friends of Pathways believes the decision will create a model for sustainable public land access in Grand Teton National Park and the National Park System by protecting resources and supporting alternatives to motor vehicle dependence.  The Grand Teton system, combined with the Jackson Hole alternative transportation system, will surely become a valuable model of sustainable access for other parks and gateway communities.

Friends of Pathways envisions a completed pathway system of up to 100 miles of Pathways that interconnect the Jackson Hole Community Pathways system with Grand Teton National Park’s newly approved 41 mile system and the Old Pass Road-Teton Pass Trail on National Forest lands.

The solution
Friends of Pathways, along with partners the National Parks Conservation Association, and community leaders in Jackson Hole, were lead advocates encouraging that the Park Service approve a visionary Transportation Plan in the Final Environmental Impact Statement. 

Friends of Pathways supports the final decision by the National Park Service. This plan is a win for Grand Teton, for visitors from across the country, and for the community of Jackson. The decision creates a thoughtful, balanced plan that protects park resources by taking a step-by-step approach while offering residents and visitors exciting new ways to explore this national treasure.

Vital to help make this happen was United States Senator Craig Thomas who worked tirelessly for a good outcome.  Through his leadership, Congress has been convinced of the benefits and has appropriated $8 million dollars to start the Grand Teton National Park Pathways.  Friends of Pathways is eternally grateful to Sen. Thomas for his work over these past several years, it will truly become a treasured gem of the National Park System and a lasting legacy.
[link to thank Sen. Thomas]

Friends of Pathways worked successfully during the 7-year planning process to encourage our members and the general public to comment in favor of the Plan.  The National Park Service deserves credit for listening to the public and crafting a sound decision that protects resources and enhances visitor access. Friends of Pathways is grateful for the support of the National Parks Conservation Association and of Town and County leaders in Jackson Hole, all who helped greatly in advocating that the National Park Service approve a visionary Transportation Plan.

FoP will continue to work diligently with Grand Teton National Park and the National Park Service to help complete and maintain the new park pathway system, fulfilling our role as the community advocate for pathways.

It is also necessary to secure the balance of federal funds required to complete the system. Friends of Pathways will help advocate for the federal funding necessary for constructing the pathways and implementing a park transit system.

Great victories require strong public support and involvement! The Record of Decision includes monitoring of the initial phases and adapting the pathways to reduce environmental impacts, better serve visitor use patterns, and other factors relevant to construction and use of the system.

These monitoring steps and future pathway funding needs will likely include public comment. Friends of Pathway will help you understand each step in the process in useful terms, and provide simple and time efficient methods for you to take action on future National Park plans and projects. The best outcomes often come from effective public participation.  FoP will take a leadership role in encouraging the ongoing public support for pathways.

Please sign up for our e-mail alerts so that Friends of Pathways can keep you informed about how you can help.  FoP will do the hard work of researching agency pathway plans and provide useful factual summaries to best utilize your time and maximize your effectiveness in commenting.

Grand Teton Transportation and Recreation Access System

Grand Teton National Park has world class scenic and wildlife resources, which draws visitors from around the world.  With the addition of a safe pathways system, new public transit choices, inviting walkways, and lower impact roads, visitors would be guaranteed safe, environmentally friendly visits.

Grand Teton is well suited to become a model national park to demonstrate how improving visitor access with a pathway system, efficient transit, and lower impact roadway systems can be the key to relieving congestion, enhancing safety, minimizing resource impacts, and working cooperatively with gateway communities. Such a visionary transportation and recreation access system will better protect resources and provide a higher quality park visitor experience. 

• A 42-mile pathway system
• Phase 1 – 7.9 miles Moose to South Jenny Lake
• Phase 2 – 4.6 miles South Jenny Lake to String Lake
• Phase 3 – 10.1 miles South Boundary to Moose, spur to Antelope Flats Road and Sagebrush Drive spur to Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis
• Phase 4 – 15.7 miles North Jenny Lake to Signal Lodge, Jackson Lake Lodge, Colter Bay
• Phase 5 – 3.3 miles south section Moose Wilson Road from Granite Entry to the new LSR Rockefeller Visitor Center

These pathways, in combination with enhancing the safety of existing park roads, will provide park visitors a welcome addition to private motor vehicle use, encouraging more healthy, enjoyable, and non-polluting modes of park access. The pathways will greatly enhance safety for those who choose to see the park by foot or bike and will create new park access for disabled recreation visits.  The visionary system, built in phases, will include monitoring to provide valuable lessons that will be incorporated into each new phase.

The park’s Record of Decision includes the continuing study of public transit options. Grand Teton is now in the next study phase with a Transit Business Plan that was funded in 2006.

Friends of Pathways supports creating a new clean-fuel public transit system like the “new Yellow Bus” to meet park visitor and employee travel needs. A successful bus system would:
 

• Connect primary park destinations.
• Provide bike friendly buses and good pedestrian accommodations on each end connecting transit hubs to people’s destinations.
• Offer service between Town of Jackson and Colter Bay.
• Provide special small bus service from Teton Village to Moose along the Moose Wilson Road.
• Offer stops at Moose, Jenny Lake, Signal Mountain, Jackson Lake Lodge, and Colter Bay.
• Connect with Jackson’s START bus system.
• Connect with future regional transit opportunities in the greater Teton and Yellowstone area.

Costs could be shared between Grand Teton National Park and the Town of Jackson, Teton County, major area Resorts, and State of Wyoming. This public-private partnership would maximize transit service while reducing per-agency costs.

The Park’s new plan will improve the connections between travel modes, and enhance accessibility to Grand Teton National Park by:

• Improving walkway networks in park activity areas
• Improving intermodal connections between park lodging, employee housing, park stores and campgrounds
• Connecting the transit, roadway, and pathway systems.

The decision states Park Roads will continue to be improved and maintained, and FoP believes these projects provide the opportunity to enhance the safety of Park Roads by controlling traffic speeds with good design.

Friends of Pathways recommends such tools as the use of innovative intersection designs such as roundabouts, which are safer for vehicles and reduce overly wide road intersections. Other general road recommendations include:

• Incorporating improved “Shared Road” information on roads used by bicyclists and pedestrians, such as the Antelope Flats Road and one-way Jenny Lake Loop.
• Using context-sensitive road designs to better address transportation challenges
• Reducing transportation-related resource impacts such as wildlife-vehicle collisions
• Improving safety for non-motorized modes with better road designs and management.

Outcomes

The Grand Teton Transportation and Recreational Access System will enhance park access and lead to a more sustainable future. Combining new choices for travel with historic motor vehicle access will result in a safer, more balanced transportation system.  Introducing new bicycle, pedestrian, and transit facilities will vastly improve visitors’ choices to explore the park and experience Grand Teton’s picturesque environment, while helping protect the park’s natural resources and educating visitors.