A NEW transportation system devised to limit the amount of holiday traffic in the Grand Canyon National Park could be in place by 2003.
It is aimed at relieving the vehicle congestion in the park, especially in high season, with day visitors being transferred to the Rim of the canyon by either a rail or an electric-powered bus system.
More than 6m people a year visit the Grand Canyon, which covers an area of 1,904 square miles. Arizona’s UK director of tourism Michael Squire said: “The number of visitors and vehicles going into the Grand Canyon National Park has reached a point where not only is it detrimental to the area but it is also affecting people’s enjoyment.
“When I was there last June, there was nowhere to park because of the number of cars and coaches,” he said. “Under the new scheme, those staying at any of the lodges in the park will still be able to take their vehicles into the area, as well as those who are traversing the park from east to west.
“Anyone else will be required to leave their cars or coaches outside the park on the south side of the Canyon. An overland transport shuttle system, which is yet to be decided, will then take people up to and from the rim of the Canyon.”
Under the proposal, around 3,000 new hotel rooms will be constructed within the huge car-parking area, creating a vast recreation complex on the edge of the park. Squire said: “We don’t want to make it impossible for visitors to get there but we have to strike an even balance as it’s in everybody’s interest to preserve the park.”