Glacier Park awards contract for new transit center
The Daily Inter Lake
A Great Falls contractor has been picked to build a new transit center for Glacier National Park near Apgar.
James Talcott Construction Inc. was the successful bidder and was awarded a contract for $4.2 million. Construction can start next month, and the transit center - a major component in an expanded transit system - is expected to be complete by May 2007.
"We are delighted and eager for the construction of the new west side transit center," said Glacier Superintendent Mick Holm.
The transit center is part of the park's long-range program to provide improved visitor experiences and services while reducing impacts caused by the Going-to-the-Sun Road reconstruction project. A citizens advisory committee and the National Park Service recommended measures that ensure two-way access along the entire length of Sun Road during the summer season, while accommodating delays at road work areas.
The new transit system will be phased into operation next year, with new buses that will provide rides to regular stops, but no interpretive services. The park's current transportation services - Sun Tours and red bus tours operated by Glacier Park Inc. - will continue to provide interpretive tours.
The 4,200-square-foot transit center will include public restrooms and parking for 132 passenger vehicles and 15 recreational vehicles. There will also be public information displays and self-service computer kiosks for trip planning. The project will involve extending sewer, water, power and telephone to the site.
Glacier's West Side Visitor Center will remain at its current location in Apgar Village, with a connecting trail to the transit center to be constructed as part of the project.
A second transit hub is planned on the east side of the park, as part of the St. Mary Visitor Center.
Meanwhile, park officials are now taking public comments on a new initiative - preparing a "campus plan" for Glacier's headquarters area.
"The headquarters area was first developed in 1917 and since that time many new issues, including larger vehicles, more staff and different needs have arisen," Holm said.
A vehicle washing facility, for instance, is needed to maintain the new transit buses.
The plan will address four primary issues: identifying locations in the headquarters area that are appropriate for future development; selecting a location and design for the vehicle washing facility; identifying parking areas; and identifying structures that could be converted to office use.
An environmental assessment will be prepared to analyze the impacts of recommendations in the plan.
Comments can be submitted through the park's planning Web site at: http://www.nps.gov/glac/home.htm
Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com