ZION NATIONAL PARK Hurricane to Springdale: Integrated Transportation Solutions Enhance Economic & Recreation Opportunities, Alleviate SR-9 Congestion

Trail Cost: $9 M

Annual Economic Benefit: $18 M

Job-Years Generated: 218

E-Bike Cost: $1.1 M

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OVERVIEW

Zion National Park features over 220 square miles of explorable land, showcasing unbelievable views of

natural rock, arches, formations, and picturesque landscapes. It also lies within a constrained

transportation corridor that is visited by nearly 4 million visitors every year. As we continue to enhance

the overall experience of visiting Zion, we will need a robust set of mobility options that are as dynamic

and diverse as the guests that visit Zion from all over the world.

This proposal is in response to alleviating congestion and providing economic benefits to Zion National

Park. It is a holistic integrated transportation approach that will bolster the transportation choices into

Zion National Park, while helping to alleviate SR9s congestion issues. An e-bikeshare system,

centralized park and ride lots, expedited bus networks and a world class trail facility will give a diverse

combination of solutions that will help alleviate congestion at Zion National Park in a manner that

enhances the economic development potential of the region and enriches the experience for visitors,

residents, and local communities.

The following elements of this proposal will help create a world class integrated transportation system

that will provide mobility options for guests and residents that are unprecedented at any National Park in

the United States.

THE CONCEPT

The journey to Zion National Park should be fun and convenient. This integrated transportation approach

will provide world-class options for guests to enhance the experience of arriving at Zion National Park.

The economic and recreational possibilities are endless with an integrated transportation approach to

visiting Zion. The transportation choices we provide, should be as diverse and exciting as our guests. In

his book Desert Solitaire, Edward Abbey said "A man on foot, on horseback or on a bicycle will see more,

feel more, enjoy more in one mile that the motorized tourists can in a hundred miles." This integrated

transportation approach will greatly enhance and expand the user experience of getting to Zion National

Park. Imagine visiting Zion and gradually experiencing a new side of southern Utah. Once you arrive in

any of the communities on the way to Zion, this adventure allows you to hop on e-bikes and explore the

contours of the Virgin river, experience nature first hand, and enjoy pit stops at local businesses in

communities along the way on your journey to Zion.

Imagine being with your family or friends and enjoying the trip into Zion on Electric Bike Share bicycles

(e-bikes), noticing the riverbed, geology and landscape changes that surround you. After a fun and

spectacular jaunt along the river, you suddenly find yourself at the gates of one of the most beautiful and

unique parks in the United States.

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Now that you have enjoyed your journey, you’re ready to enjoy your journey inside the Park. After a day

of hiking and enjoying the vistas, you hop on a bus to return back to the park and ride lot to start your

next adventure.

INTEGRATED TRANSPORTATION ELEMENTS

Trails

The Virgin River Trail is part of a vision

for an innovative and integrated

transportation approach to alleviating

traffic congestion and enhancing the

overall experience of visiting one of Utah's

premier National Parks. This element of

the proposal is to build a phased trail

system that follows the contours of the

Virgin River and connects Zion National

Park with the surrounding communities.

This trail system will allow users the

ability to directly access a national park

without finding themselves on a busy and

congested roadway. A connected trail

network of this size in a rural setting is

unprecedented and has the potential to cultivate economic and recreational opportunities along its entire

length.

This mixed-use trail is a fundamental element of this proposal. This trail will be integrated with park and

ride facilities and transit stations that will allow for ease of access and encourage a diverse user group

that is inclusive of all ages and abilities. Mixed-use trails not only provide a recreational outlet for local

residents, but they offer a unique experience for people visiting Zion. Currently, unless you are a

seasoned bicyclists and unbothered by traffic you can currently bike, but this facility will open the doors

for all ages: kids on strider bikes, parents with strollers, skateboards, those in wheelchairs or with

mobility impairments, equestrians, bicycles and e-bicycles. Building this accessible trail, that would serve

the mobility impaired, would be just another addition to Zion’s National Park accessible amenities

already in place.

This trail element of the plan can be done in phases with a community build-out done towards Zion and a

second phase that connects the network to St. George. Not only will this enhance quality of life for

residents and expand safe and healthy recreation options, it will increase the region as a more attractive

year-round bicycle and trail destination.

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The current proposal is to run the trail starting in Hurricane, running along part of the Virgin River, and

then following SR-9 through Virgin, Rockville and Springdale to the park entrance.

Electric Bike Share

Park City recently installed and is now operating the nation’s first electric bikeshare (e-bike) program.

The distances and topographical changes these bikes allow riders to traverse is dramatic and

empowering for visitors and offer a different experience. E-bikes dramatically reduce the skill or fitness

level necessary to bicycle to Zion and opens the door for all age groups and ability levels to enjoy.

Coupled with a world-class trail system that gives an opportunity to follow the contours of the Virgin

River and incrementally explore southern Utah's unique geology as they approach the national park and

visit local and family owned establishments throughout the SR9 corridor.

The e-bikeshare system can have kiosks that are coupled with transit centers along the SR9 corridor and

can be phased in their implementation. An initial launch of 200 e-bikes will allow users to easily use them

to quickly zip from community to community and access the park skipping roadway congestion and

simply docking them at their destination. Bike shares are becoming increasingly common and expected in

major tourism destinations. The e-bikeshare will also encourage other bicycle businesses to flourish

along the corridor. Mountain biking is already popular on Gooseberry Mesa and in Frog Hollow and this

trail could highlight access to these other mountain bike trail facilities.

Public Transportation

A public transportation option will enhance the experience of these guests as they arrive and travel

throughout the communities leading to Springdale. Many guests currently visit Zion on tour buses or in

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personal vehicles. This leaves the Park very congested and bottlenecked and leaves limited opportunities

for visitors to visit local businesses once they are in their vehicles or tour buses. Parking is hard to find

and excess vehicles overwhelm locals and consume precious public space in the small communities

leading to Zion. Given the sheer volume of visitors, public transportation linking St. George, Hurricane, La

Verkin, Rockville and Springdale will be necessary to help accommodate the current transportation

demands now and in the future.

Currently there are few options for visitors to access the park other than by private vehicle. A public

transportation system will give visitors stress-free mobility options as they plan their trip. The express

bus service will allow direct connections between St. George and Zion and allow visitors to experience

the best of both locations without the stress of driving, navigating and parking. It will also facilitate the

expansion of economic opportunities geared towards Zion visitors within St. George since guests will

have lodging and transportation options dispersed through the region.

Park and Ride Facilities

A key element of this integrated transportation proposal will be park and ride facilities. These help

encourage carpooling and provide a location for people to park remotely and pull congestion away from

the Zion National Park entrance and the small communities leading up to it. These park and ride facilities

can function as transportation hubs with bus stops, private shuttle service pickup, carpooling

opportunities, e-bikeshare or bicycle rentals with trailhead spurs for users to access the Virgin River

Trial. These park and ride facilities can be little gateways to adventure that help reduce congestion and

provide designated locations for vehicles to park so they don't overwhelm local communities.

IN CONCLUSION

This proposal is a well-rounded and integrated approach to assisting SR-9’s transportation issues leading

into Zion National Park. An e-bikeshare system and a world class trail facility offer a diverse combination

of solutions that will help alleviate congestion at Zion National Park and create an unparalleled economic

return on its investment as shown below.

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COSTS AND ECONOMIC BENEFIT

The total cost of the project is estimated to be approximately $10.1 million. However, using methods from

a recent study for estimating the economic benefits of active transportation projects, the total annual

economic output resulting from the project is estimated at $18 million.

Initial Installation Investment

Item Cost/Mile Miles Cost

New Trail Installed $439,000 20.5 $9,000,000

E-Bike Share System N/A N/A $1,100,000

Total Investment $10,100,000

Economic Return on Investment

Annual Economic Output Low Estimate Middle Estimate High Estimate

Total Annual Economic Output $9,000,000 $18,000,000 $27,000,000

Total Job-Years Generated 109 218 328

Total Annual Labor Income $2,700,000 $5,500,000 $8,300,000

OTHER PROPOSED PROJECTS

Project Estimated Cost

A. Sheep Bridge Road Paving $3,211,070

B. Big Plains Road (Gooseberry Mesa) paving $6,808,490

C. St. George to Springdale Transit $9,000,000

D. Park-and-Ride/Transit Stops -- St. George to Zion (250 Stalls) $500,000

E. Wayfinding and Visitor Information App

F. Park Data Natural Metering $2,000,000

G. Active Transportation Projects / Trail Connections $10,100,000

H. SR-9; Virgin Flats WB Passing Lane, MP 15.4 to 16.9 $2,950,000

I. SR-9; Laverkin Twists, Widen Shoulder, MP 12.6 to 14.36 $4,600,000

J. SR-9; Extend EB Passing Lane, MP 14.36 to 14.5 $560,000

K. SR-9; Paved Trail - Rockville to Springdale, MP 28.2 to 29.5 $800,000

L. SR-9; Ranch Road Intersection Improvements $200,000

M. SR-9; Laverkin Gun Range Access $300,000

N. SR-9; Signalized Ped Crossing at Virgin Post Office $160,000

Total $41,189,560