ZION NATIONAL PARK – The town that serves as a gateway to Zion National Park is considering going “carless,” as traffic jams at the park entrance sometimes stretch for a half mile into the small town.
The Springdale, Utah Town Council has awarded $60,000 to a consulting company to study the feasibility of carless travel. The company, Parametrix, is tasked with educating the community and visitors about transportation alternatives that could improve the quality of life in the community, including safety, air quality and preserving the small-town character.
“Most of the people who arrive in a private vehicle park their vehicles in Springdale,” Springdale Community Development Director Tom Dansie told St. George News. “If you imagine 5 million people trying to park their cars in a town of 600 people, that’s a pretty big impact on a small community.”
There’s only one route in and out of Springdale, SR-9. It also serves as the town’s main street where most businesses, restaurants and residences are located.
