Glacier Park getting money for new buses

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was in Apgar Monday to announce that Glacier National Park will receive a $250,000 grant to purchase new buses for the park’s free shuttle system.

LaHood was at the Apgar Transit Center along with Federal Transit Administration Administrator Peter Rogoff to make the announcement.

“In his State of the Union address last week, President Obama called on us to upgrade our nation’s transportation infrastructure to help grow our economy and improve energy efficiency,” LaHood said. “Improving access to modern transit services in Glacier National Park and other scenic parklands around the country will help us preserve these national treasures for future generations.”

The grant is one of 29 totaling $12.5 million being awarded through the Federal Transit Administration’s Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program.

The $250,000 will go toward purchasing two American-made buses to augment the park’s bus fleet that provides free shuttle service along Going-to-the-Sun Road.

The shuttle system is intended to reduce vehicle congestion and alleviate parking shortages in Glacier, which has nearly 35,000 daily visitors during the peak summer season.

“Visitors to Glacier National Park should be able to explore this stunning area without getting stuck in traffic or breathing harmful emissions,” Rogoff said. “By modernizing transit in our parks, we’re making it easier for people to get around, while ensuring that these areas are sustainable for years to come.”

This year’s grants are the latest in $80 million that has been distributed to 134 Transit in the Parks projects over the last three years.

Later last month, LaHood announced that he will be stepping down as transportation secretary as soon as his successor is nominated and confirmed by the Senate.