Grand Canyon awards contract to operate shuttle bus services on South Rim

GRAND CANYON, Arizona — Grand Canyon National Park announced the award of the contract for operation of the South Rim’s shuttle bus services to Paul Revere Transportation LLC.  The five-year contract is in effect from Dec. 1, 2014 through Nov. 30, 2019.

Under the new contract, Paul Revere will operate Grand Canyon’s shuttle bus system and maintain the park’s fleet of 30 compressed natural gas fueled transit buses.  The shuttle bus system operates year round on the South Rim offering four shuttle bus routes; two that operate year-round and two additional seasonal routes, including one that operates during the summer months between the park and the gateway community of Tusayan, Arizona.

Use of the shuttle bus service is free for visitors and is funded with park entrance fees. Buses are equipped with ramps and are wheelchair accessible. All buses are also equipped with two or three capacity bicycle racks in front.

Grand Canyon’s transit system has been in operation since 1974 and is one of the heaviest utilized shuttle bus systems within the National Park Service. Ridership on the transit system has grown by 40 percent since 2009 with approximately 6.9 million boardings in 2014. This represents two million people utilizing the system and a reduction of two million short in-park car trips, which reduces the park’s carbon footprint and congestion, particularly in the historic Grand Canyon Village.

Completion of a rim-based trail system over the last few years makes it possible to walk or bike 13 miles along the South Rim while encountering a bus stop every one-half to one mile. Visitors can walk or cycle one way and ride the bus back to their point of origin.

“Operating a shuttle bus service in a national park not only allows for ease of visitor movement, but the reduction in auto exhaust emissions leads to better air quality, less greenhouse gas emissions and improved visibility at Grand Canyon,” Superintendent Dave Uberaga said. “We are excited to have Paul Revere operate this valuable service here on the South Rim as the National Park Service moves into its second century.”

Paul Revere Transportation is based in Boston Massachusetts and specializes in fixed route public transportation. Besides operating numerous transportation systems in the Boston area, Paul Revere Transportation has operated the Grand Canyon shuttle bus system since 2000.

Resources

  • For information contact Program Analyst Pamela Edwards by telephone 928-638-7713 or by email.
  • Grand Canyon National Park website

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