For years I’ve been rallying for a light/high speed rail system into Yosemite from Mariposa or Merced. It could follow the historic rail road route and be elevated to prevent accidents with wildlife, rock slides, flooding and other disasters while minimizing ecological impact. It would take the place of thousands of cars and buses that enter Yosemite every year cutting down on emissions and pollution in the Valley. Also it’d give visitors time to enjoy the beautiful scenery on the way into the park instead of keeping their eyes on the road not to mention the numerous wrecks and fatalities along the river canyon every year.
Building it would create hundreds of new jobs and push tons of money into the local economy. With multiple runs into the Valley from local communities it would make living/staying in surrounding communities more feasible. Maybe even help spur removal of concessionaire living quarters within the park restoring more of the Valley floor to it’s natural state. No longer would local communities suffer when the road is closed due to rain or snow. The road would never be blocked!
My only question is, why aren’t more people for this idea? With all the money being spent on public works projects maybe it’s time Radanovich and the other local politicians push to get something like this going. What are your thoughts on the subject? Would you be willing to sign a petition to get the idea looked at? Please comment below. Lets start a discussion.
Comments
9 responses to “It’s What We Really Need”
Short of closing Yosemite to the public (yes, I myself have entertained this potential), I think this would be a good idea. Honestly though I have been avoiding Yosemite for a while now, in favor of other less crowded and better spots; such as El Dorado County’s Desolation Wilderness… I am really torn, actually. I feel like the public should be able to enjoy, but at same time I feel like we can’t make too many more areas “parks.” Leave as USFS, BLM, etc. is my opinion…
I would think an electric bus system to shuttle people from El Portal in would be the best. Electric scooters, bicycles might not be bad either depending on weather. The current bus system would work just fine. YARTS repurposed to go from El Portal into the Valley. Think of the savings. And the cost could be worked into the train ticket. $20? All the way into the park? Including admission? Sounds like a deal to me. If you have a National Parks pass it’s only $15.
I love this idea.
I would like to read more about any effects that would harm anything but it does sound excellent.
Especially being able to restore Yosemite a little more.
Also, it would provide a safe and easy way into the valley in winter.
If they re-open the route what would they do once you get to El Portal? If they could think of a reliable bus link then the only thing standing in the way would be the engineering required to repair/upgrade the right of way of the old rail line. If only I had thought of this for a GIS project in school. We presented our Hetch Hetchy restoration project at the 2008 AAG conference. We used Digital Elevation Models to show the restored valley floor. With the right files a quick representation shouldn’t be too difficult.
I think it sounds like a great idea. Reducing the number of cars entering the Valley – and increasing the number of visitors on foot and shuttles – can only be a good thing.
Dan
United States is the really the only country without a heavily developed public transportation system (not counting third world countries where you ride with the chickens on the bus). We’d be the only ones who’d really have to get used to the idea of sharing a ride with someone.
I think this idea deserves a lot of consideration. I visited Yosemite for the first time a year ago and spent the day doing a little hiking up Yosemite Falls. One things I noticed is that you never got away from the noise of the cars and buses, which was a little bit of a spoilers. The crowds I don’t mind so much, as its good to see people outside and hiking. Next month I am returning for 4 days of backcountry hiking, and I’m hoping my plans will at least take me away from all the noise. A system like a maglev type train might help drastically cut down on the traffic, pollution and noise.
Stop funneling money into the pit that is the Ahwanee and start putting that money towards a train.
Back in the ’70s, the Sierra Club looked at this very idea. They released a book (I have an ancient copy of it) called YV88, wherein they imagined what the valley would be like in the “next” decade. They had a rail system that went into the valley and to various places throughout the park. They also looked at restoring Hetch Hetchy in there.
I think it’s an excellent idea and I’ve also wondered why there isn’t more talk about it. I enjoy the YARTS system now and often link to it from Amtrak in Merced.
I’d sign a petition anyday.