Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: October 28, 1999

(DOI) John Wright 202/208-6416
(DOT) Susan Slye 202/366-1068

MEDIA ADVISORY

Departments of the Interior and Transportation to Announce Test Project to Help Improve the Quality of Visits to National Parks
The project is designed to provide choices and transportation options,
and may serve as a model for parks in the twenty-first century

On Monday, November 1, 1999, Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt and Assistant Secretary of Transportation Eugene A. Conti Jr. will be in Philadelphia, PA to announce a new Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) test project to help improve the quality of the park experience for visitors.

"The problem in our national parks is not too many visitors, it's too many cars," said Babbitt. "This test project uses emerging technology to help us solve transportation problems and may serve as a model for our parks for the twenty-first century."

The test project is part of a partnership agreement between the Interior Department and the Department of Transportation to reduce traffic gridlock and congestion in the parks. The announcement highlights the first of four training sessions sponsored by the National Park Service and the Department of Transportation for park and transportation officials. The training sessions scheduled for different locations around the country focus on planning, partnerships and new approaches to transportation. The two-day training session deals with new ideas and solutions to transportation challenges in and around national parks. The session in Philadelphia runs Nov. 1-2.

Who: Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt
Transportation Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy,
Eugene A. Conti Jr.
National Park Service Director Robert Stanton

What: New Intelligent Transportation Systems Test Project for the Park Service

When: Monday, Nov. 1, 1999, at 10 a.m.

Where: Adam's Mark Hotel

City Avenue and Monument Road

Philadelphia, PA

Adam's Ballroom A & B

- DOI -