ST. GEORGE — A ride through the iconic canyon in Zion National Park is now quieter and more comfortable, thanks to new electric buses.
During a preview of the buses on Wednesday, Lisa White, transportation manager for Zion National Park, told St. George News the new buses are noticeably quieter than the current fleet. These are the first five battery-electric buses replacing the current propane-powered vehicles. Delivery of more battery-electric buses will continue in the months ahead.
“Up in the canyon, you will notice a big difference in the soundscape of the canyon where you won’t hear a lot of vehicles in the canyon, you’ll just hear the canyon through the natural sounds that are meant to be in Zion, so we can experience it in the way it’s meant to be experienced,” White said.
Five electric shuttle buses are now in service in Springdale, the town adjacent to the park. They are made possible due to a $33 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Park Spokesman Jonathan Shafer thanked park partners, including the Zion Forever Project, the National Park Foundation, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Utah Department of Transportation, Utah Clean Cities, the town of Springdale and Washington, Kane and Iron counties leadership.
Shafer added that the fleet replacement project combines funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Nationally Significant Lands and the Native American Tribal Program with contributions from the National Park Service, Iron and Washington counties and the Zion National Park Forever Project.
White noted that the park’s current shuttle buses began service in 2000. She said the new fleet is a “huge step forward” sustainability-wise. The new shuttle buses have air conditioning that was lacking in the propane-fueled buses.
“That’s a big improvement over our existing buses, especially for our drivers who sit in them all day. If you’ve ridden them — the propane buses — you know they can get warm in Zion summers,” White said. “These new buses will have air conditioning, so they’ll be climate controlled, easier to get on and off and sustainable. And they’ll allow us to provide an amazing service to all our visitors.”
White said her favorite part about the new buses is the ease of getting on and off them.
“It’s a low-floor design and it has a ramp for accessibility. So it’s got a single step for everyone, but then a really easy ramp for anyone who needs it, which is an improvement over our existing shuttle buses,” White said. “They’re also two sets of doors. So we’ll be able to unload and offload people faster than before and provide even better service than we do right now.”
According to a news release, the new buses also have more seats and emit no tailpipe emissions. They also produce less sound than the existing fleet and have graphics highlighting park-specific conservation messages to protect Zion.
General Manager of the Zion Canyon Shuttle System, Frank Austin, said the buses are unique and different from what they have run in the last 24 years. He said the low floors make loading and unloading passengers easier.
“They are very comfortable, smooth to ride in and air-conditioned. They will be a big benefit to our guests that visit the park. I think that they will enjoy them,” Austin said. “And we will be able to move the people very still very safely and quickly in and out of this canyon.”
With Zion National Park’s ever-increasing visitation, the park noted its 90 millionth boarding on the buses in August of this year. The shuttle buses operate during the spring to winter seasons.
Since the shuttle system began running, the number of visits recorded at Zion National Park has increased from 2.4 million in 2000 to 5 million in 2021, the news release states. Officials said the number of visitors consistently exceeded those recorded before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To add some perspective about the role of the shuttle buses, Shafer said there are only about 300 parking spots in Zion Canyon between Canyon Junction and the Temple of Sinawava. Additionally, there are parking spaces at the Zion Human History Museum, at Zion Canyon Visitor Center and in the town of Springdale.
“Operating the shuttle system here is essential to accommodating everyone who comes from across the United States and around the world who wants to enjoy this spectacular place,” Shafer said.
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