Shuttle traffic up by 50,000 passengers

The Daily Inter Lake

Glacier National Park officials say the Going-to-the-Sun Road shuttle system had a substantial increase in riders during its third summer in existence.

The shuttle system ended operations for the summer season on Sept. 7 after carrying 50,000 more people than last year, according to a news release from Glacier.

The increase is partly attributed to an extra week of operation compared to 2008 and an 11 percent increase in overall park visitation so far this year.

The transit system had a total of 156,726 riders, compared to 105,639 in 2008 and 132,093 in 2007.

The system's 2008 season was down partly because of record high gas prices that resulted in lower park visitation, along with a shorter operating season and three east-side shuttle buses being out of service for several weeks.

This year, there were four additional 16-passenger vans and simplified routes.

"Transit systems typically need a few operational seasons for routes and schedules to be refined," said Jim Foster, chief of facility management at Glacier. "We are extremely pleased that so many park visitors opt to ride the shuttle system, thereby reducing traffic and congestion from the Sun Road."

The Sun Road shuttle system is made possible through a cooperative agreement among the Montana Department of Transportation, Flathead County's Eagle Transit and Glacier Park.

The agreement includes a provision that allows the buses to be used for other purposes across the state during Glacier's off-season from September to June.