INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL ACCESS TO NATIONAL PARKS: CURRENT STATUS, GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES, AND RESEARCH AGENDA

摘要

Recent initiatives aimed at reducing the impacts of vehicle traffic have developed new optionsfor sustainable transport in and around national parks. More recently, there has been a revivedinterest in the nation's long-neglected intercity passenger rail system. However, very little recentresearch has been done on the potential linkages between the two, a connection which wouldprovide additional opportunities for sustainable access to national parks. This paper examinesthe synergy between intercity passenger rail and sustainable park access. Currently, more thanhalf of national parks in the Lower 48 are within 80 miles of passenger rail service. Proposedrail services or expansions of existing routes are expected to improve accessibility in the comingdecades. Case studies of improving accessibility through the use of local transportation partnersare provided, demonstrating the range of possible options for providing a seamless connectionbetween the rail station and the park. A comprehensive research agenda designed to betterunderstand the potential linkages is proposed.