Pinnacles National Park discusses a relaunch of shuttle service
PINNACLES, Calif. (KION-TV) - Discussions continued over bringing shuttle service back to Pinnacles National Park.
The two main points within this topic were bringing people into Downtown and clearing up traffic around the park. Some people said it can take several hours to get into the park due to traffic and parking.
One of the committee's leading proposed solutions is to relaunch a shuttle service to take visitors to the park.
This area, especially around the park, is known for having poor cellular service. The shuttle could help people unfamiliar with the area avoid getting a flat tire and being left stranded without help. Or it could help people get lost because their maps app would not connect.
Another reason the committee mentioned this solution is that it connects to another project they're working on, which is to bring tourists downtown.
The shuttle would bring visitors back into town, where they could shop, eat, and hopefully stay overnight, which connects to another program the committee is working on that would incentivize more hotels to come to the area.
The problem is the money.
" I do not have the money or the buses to run something next week or next month, but this is where the planning comes into play. That's not to say we cannot do it, but we are fixing a broken system," said Binu Abraham, executive director for the Council of San Benito County Governments
Abraham also suggested ideas, such as technology that could help alert visitors to what parking looks like. Abraham also said it could be helpful for the committee to examine other national parks and local attractions to manage their parking.
A board member mentioned that the idea of building more parking lots just would not work because that would involve cutting down things in or around the park and would ultimately not be a long-term solution.
The committee said they will continue to reach out to the park and work alongside the local transportation authority to find the best solution.
