Transportation Needs in Denali Up For Comment (Again)

The National Park Service has recently released scoping questions in order to guide comments on Denali’s proposed Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).  The purpose of the LRTP is to develop a 10-year vision of what transportation should look like in the future of Denali National Park, in order to guide future management decisions. At the meeting, a presentation by NPS on September 24, 2014 explained the reasoning for this plan, and specified comments that would be helpful (click link to see PDF of slide show DENA 148600A Public Scoping 092914 post (2)).  An additional memo (click link to see memo: Foreseeable Future Nearby Projects 09.22.2014) was provided at the meeting for anyone interested. It includes what development is proposed in the park presently (and in the near future). Any additional infrastructure development would require additional public process and regulations.  Comment guidelines are wide open, with opportunities for all individuals to suggest ideas about what transportation to and in Denali National Park and Preserve will be in the future.  The three over-arching questions include:

·      Ten years from now, what would you like transportation within the park and its gateway communities to look like?

·      What would you like to see the park focus on in a long range transportation plan?

·      What about transportation is important to you when entering, using, or leaving the park?
We encourage members to consider several topics in addition to overall management of transportation requested by NPS, including winter and shoulder season access and use, and affordability.  Individuals are encouraged to submit comments to NPS as soon as possible, with comment review by NPS occurring in mid- to late-November.

The specific questions that NPS is hoping for a response on can be seen here.

Ten years from now, what would you like transportation within the park and its gateway communities to look like?

·      Are the existing roads, trails and other infrastructure adequate to meet future needs?

·      What kind of visitor or user experience should be expected when traveling to or through the park?

·      Would an integrated community/park transit system be efficient and affordable?

·      What role does transportation play in protecting and enhancing park resources?

·      Will climate change affect how transportation is structured?

 

What would you like to see the park focus on in a long range transportation plan?

·      Should the park focus on modes, nodes, network or resources?

·      Are there any other user groups that can be better served through attention to transportation?

·      What would make the park’s transportation infrastructure or systems safer?

·      Should the park emphasize protection or enhancement of natural resources, cultural resources, or both?

·      How can transportation mitigate changing climate?

 

What about transportation is important to you when entering, using, or leaving the park?

·      Is it more important to you to be able to ride in a motor vehicle, ride a bike, or walk when visiting the park?

·      How can transportation address natural, cultural and socioeconomic resources outside the park boundary?

·      How can transportation adapt to a changing climate?

 

Other comments/concerns?
Please submit your comments directly to NPS at Denali National Park Planning, PO Box 9, Denali Park, AK 99755 or mary_mckinley@nps.gov.  Look for future DCC action alerts for notification of other options for commenting.   Contact hannah@denalicitizens.org for more information.