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Springdale steering committee outlines goals for smart-travel study, schedules public open house April 3
Summary
Council reviewed preliminary goals and evaluation criteria for a study to promote smart travel alternatives to private cars. Steering committee recommends promoting multimodal options, preserving community character and managing transportation for visitors and workforce; a public open house is scheduled April 3.
The Springdale Town Council received an update March 12 on a consultant-led study to promote alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle travel into town — a study the consultant and steering committee described as “promoting smart travel alternatives to Springdale.”
Town staff said the study’s intent is not to prohibit cars but to make other transportation options more convenient and attractive. The steering committee — which includes town staff, Zion National Park representation, UDOT, Zion Forever and the visitor bureau — proposed three draft goals: expand and encourage smart travel options, preserve Springdale’s community character and support (reworded during discussion to manage) transportation for visitors and workforce associated with the tourism economy.
Councilors and staff debated wording (for example, changing the goal from “support Springdale’s tourism economy” to “support transportation options for residents, visitors and workforce”) and emphasized workforce and lodging strategies that encourage visitors to stay in Springdale and travel locally by foot, bike or shuttle once here. The consultant’s proposed evaluation criteria for strategies include alignment with goals, convenience (timeliness, comfort, accessibility), a smart-travel index (shift from private vehicle to transit/active modes), cost (capital and operations) and implementation timeline.
The project’s steering committee has held four of ten planned meetings and invited county and other stakeholders (the county declined steering-committee membership but remains a stakeholder). Staff said the study’s visitor survey is targeted to visitors, while an open house for residents and business owners is planned Thursday, April 3 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.; councilors were asked to help publicize the open house and encourage attendance.
Council members suggested several strategies — real-time traffic cameras/ITS information to show backup at park entrance, promoting lodging in Springdale to reduce daily car trips, and improving connections between regional transit and local shuttles. Staff said the consultant will prepare strategy options and evaluate each against the criteria.
