Put it in park

This snippet from the AP describes a new shuttle program for visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Hoping to ease traffic congestion, Rocky Mountain National Park and the town of Estes Park plan to launch a free shuttle service for hikers this summer.

The shuttle will run hourly during the park’s peak season, July 1 to Sept. 4. The first bus will leave the visitors center in Estes Park at 9 a.m. for a lot inside the park. The last bus to leave the for Estes Park will depart at 8 p.m.

“Visitors will be able to enjoy both the park and Estes Park while reducing their fuel consumption,” said Kyle Patterson, a spokeswoman for the park, which attracts about 3 million visitors a year.

Park officials plan to run the shuttle as an experiment for three years, after which it will be evaluated. It is based on systems used in Acadia National Park in Maine and Utah’s Zion National Park.

For more information: www.coloradoan.com