El Portal "Park and Ride"

Beginning on Saturday, June 25, 2011 and continuing on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) and holidays (July 1-4, 2011) and (September 2-5, 2011) the 'dirt lot' across from the YARTS stop at the El Portal maintenance facility and the paved lot in front of RMS will be used as "Park and Ride" lots for visitors utilizing the new expanded YARTS shuttle service to Yosemite Valley. The lots will be staffed by uniformed NPS Traffic Management Rangers and staff who will provide parking assistance and guidance for visitors and assure perimeter traffic control at the complex. Employees are requested to use the covered parking behind the complex for POVs and GOVs on these days to maximize space in the lots for visitors using the expanded shuttle service.

Good to hear that they are implementing a Park & Ride for summer weekends at least at one of their entrances. Hopefully, this can relieve some of the vehicle congestion that Yosemite Valley experiences on those weekend days.

Several questions though: How much is the fare on YARTS from the El Portal Park & Ride to Yosemite Valley? What is the frequency of service to the El Portal Park & Ride lots? And what is the "RMS" that's behind the paved lot where visitors will be allowed to park?

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plawrence
Good to hear that they are implementing a Park & Ride for summer weekends at least at one of their entrances. Hopefully, this can relieve some of the vehicle congestion that Yosemite Valley experiences on those weekend days.

Several questions though: How much is the fare on YARTS from the El Portal Park & Ride to Yosemite Valley? What is the frequency of service to the El Portal Park & Ride lots? And what is the "RMS" that's behind the paved lot where visitors will be allowed to park?

It's all in the schedule:

http://www.yarts.com/schedule/2011/140summer2011.pdf

$7 ($5 kids under 12 and seniors) round trip from El Portal to any Yosemite Valley stop, which includes admission.

I had to look it up, but RMS stands for Yosemite NP's Divisions of Resources Management & Science. I suppose those divisions are based in some building near the maintenance facility.

This is a great idea. This will take a total of, maybe, 40 cars off the roads in Yosemite. That will make a huge impact......

yeah right!

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Dave
This is a great idea. This will take a total of, maybe, 40 cars off the roads in Yosemite. That will make a huge impact......

yeah right!

Maybe even less than 40. How many people fit on a YARTS bus and how many were in each car?

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eeek
Maybe even less than 40. How many people fit on a YARTS bus and how many were in each car?

I was going by the size of the parking area. I doubt it could hold more than 40 or 50 cars. Maybe 30 in the dusty dirt lot with the two portapotties, another 20 in the paved area across the street. The bus will be making several trips a day, but would you want to hang around in the sun (the bus "shelter" provides none) and wait for a bus?

At least they are trying new things. We have to give them credit for that.

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Dave
At least they are trying new things. We have to give them credit for that.

What they really need to try is something to fix the screwed up traffic pattern from the Village to Camp 4. It's a complete mess now.

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eeek

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Dave
At least they are trying new things. We have to give them credit for that.

What they really need to try is something to fix the screwed up traffic pattern from the Village to Camp 4. It's a complete mess now.

Kinda has to stay two ways so people at the Lodge can get to the village easier than going around, but making it one way would be nice.

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hotrod4x5

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eeek

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Dave
At least they are trying new things. We have to give them credit for that.

What they really need to try is something to fix the screwed up traffic pattern from the Village to Camp 4. It's a complete mess now.

Kinda has to stay two ways so people at the Lodge can get to the village easier than going around, but making it one way would be nice.

Most of the problem is pedestrians at Lower Yosemite Falls and at the day use parking heading to the store.

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eeek
Most of the problem is pedestrians at Lower Yosemite Falls and at the day use parking heading to the store.

The simple solution once proposed back in the 1990's, but rejected by the Park Superintendent (forgot which one) was to install to two portable (and temporary) stoplights at the Lower Yosemite Falls/Yosemite Lodge crosswalk and at the Day Use Parking intersection with Northside Drive. The stoplights were to be used in the spring and summer months then removed in the fall and winter.

IIRC, the park superintendent stated he didn't want no stop lights inside Yosemite Valley, however unobtrusive and temporary. (I guess he preferred the reduced air quality and excess carbon emissions produced by the daily gridlock during the summer months.) And it's not like any stoplights at those two intersections would ruin any scenic views within the valley. It was just a matter of principle to him.

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eeek

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hotrod4x5

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eeek

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Dave
At least they are trying new things. We have to give them credit for that.

What they really need to try is something to fix the screwed up traffic pattern from the Village to Camp 4. It's a complete mess now.

Kinda has to stay two ways so people at the Lodge can get to the village easier than going around, but making it one way would be nice.

Most of the problem is pedestrians at Lower Yosemite Falls and at the day use parking heading to the store.

Oh yes, the peds, I really have only visited in high season once, last week, in the past 5 years, so I forgot about that. I think we only drove around through there twice during the day over our whole visit.

Folks who ride YARTS are the coolest people in the Park.