โApr-27-2022 07:57 PM
โMay-09-2022 04:32 PM
Microlite Mike wrote:cptqueeg wrote:Microlite Mike wrote:
Unfortunately the money we're paying isn't going to the parks. It gets re-directed to the usual "Pork Projects".
One thing to note, fees collected at a park don't remain in the park (budget). They go to wherever the political winds blow them.
That's not what the NPS says.
https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/fees-at-work.htm
This tells a little different story:
https://www.npca.org/articles/832-background-the-economics-of-national-parksThere has been more than a 7%, or $173 million reduction in the account to operate national parks and more than a 12%, or $364 million reduction in the total budget for the National Park Service over the last five years in todayโs dollars.
The park serviceโs deferred maintenance backlog has steadily been growing, now at $11.5 billion. Projects are continually added to the backlog in part due to insufficient operations funding to ensure needed day-to-day maintenance. The backlog has also grown because of a steady decline in the โconstructionโ account. Over the last decade, there has been a 62% or $227 million decline in that account in todayโs dollars.
โMay-09-2022 04:24 PM
cptqueeg wrote:Microlite Mike wrote:
Unfortunately the money we're paying isn't going to the parks. It gets re-directed to the usual "Pork Projects".
One thing to note, fees collected at a park don't remain in the park (budget). They go to wherever the political winds blow them.
That's not what the NPS says.
https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/fees-at-work.htm
There has been more than a 7%, or $173 million reduction in the account to operate national parks and more than a 12%, or $364 million reduction in the total budget for the National Park Service over the last five years in todayโs dollars.
The park serviceโs deferred maintenance backlog has steadily been growing, now at $11.5 billion. Projects are continually added to the backlog in part due to insufficient operations funding to ensure needed day-to-day maintenance. The backlog has also grown because of a steady decline in the โconstructionโ account. Over the last decade, there has been a 62% or $227 million decline in that account in todayโs dollars.
โMay-09-2022 11:19 AM
Microlite Mike wrote:
Unfortunately the money we're paying isn't going to the parks. It gets re-directed to the usual "Pork Projects".
One thing to note, fees collected at a park don't remain in the park (budget). They go to wherever the political winds blow them.
โMay-09-2022 10:16 AM
dodge guy wrote:
Yes, but it sucks because they are charging for something we are already paying for!
โMay-08-2022 05:32 PM
Thunder Mountain wrote:Thom02099 wrote:
In addition to the fee increase and the continuation of timed entry, the shuttles are also coming back. Will also be starting the weekend of May 27th and run into October. Free shuttles, easy to get to Bear Lake area from a variety of starting points.
Read the press release in the Estes Park News this week. Even the Hiker Shuttle is subject to the timed entry fee.
โMay-06-2022 06:29 AM
Thom02099 wrote:
In addition to the fee increase and the continuation of timed entry, the shuttles are also coming back. Will also be starting the weekend of May 27th and run into October. Free shuttles, easy to get to Bear Lake area from a variety of starting points.
โMay-05-2022 07:14 AM
โMay-04-2022 05:19 PM
4runnerguy wrote:
My goodness. What a lot of commotion over $2.00. How much did you spend to fill your fuel tank last time? How much did your rig cost? How much do you spend a night at your last stop at an RV park?
This timed reservation system is in place to make for a better-quality visit. So more time sightseeing and less time waiting in line at the entrance and easier to find parking once in the park. With the timed reservation system in place at Arches, I'd guess the line at the entrance station is 25% of what it was a couple of years ago.
From their website, visitation at RMNP increased 42% in seven years. But there wasn't a 42% increase in parking spaces nor will they be making Trail Ridge Road four lane anytime in the near (or even distant) future.
You can do like we did at Arches: ride your bike into the park. No timed entrance permit required. The ride up Fall River Road is quite scenic and the coast back down from the top of Trail Ridge Road is exhilarating.
โMay-04-2022 09:25 AM
โMay-04-2022 08:00 AM
dodge guy wrote:Bionic Man wrote:dodge guy wrote:
Well when they get rid of the timed entry fee on top of the regular entry fee, then Iโll go back to the NPโs!
Isn't it a $2 fee?......
Yes, just another fee! And where does that money go?
โMay-04-2022 03:46 AM
Bionic Man wrote:dodge guy wrote:
Well when they get rid of the timed entry fee on top of the regular entry fee, then Iโll go back to the NPโs!
Isn't it a $2 fee?......
โMay-03-2022 08:56 PM
dodge guy wrote:
Well when they get rid of the timed entry fee on top of the regular entry fee, then Iโll go back to the NPโs!
โMay-03-2022 07:57 PM
dodge guy wrote:
Yes, but it sucks because they are charging for something we are already paying for!
โMay-03-2022 06:28 PM