Speak out: Public comment sought on Sabino Canyon shuttle ...

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Forest officials are seeking public comments about the shuttle operations in Sabino Canyon as part of the process to issue a 20-year permit to continue that service.

A draft environmental assessment by the Coronado National Forest presents four alternatives for future operation of the Sabino Canyon shuttles, and members of the public have until Oct. 13 to submit comments on the proposals.

Canyon shuttles, also known as trams, are operated by a private concessionaire, Sabino Canyon Tours, and carry visitors up the main canyon road and to the nearby Bear Canyon area. About 150,000 riders use the shuttle service to tour the scenic canyons each year, according to forest officials.

Some visitors have expressed concerns about shuttle noise and emissions from the vehicles. If approved, the new permit would require the modernizing of the shuttle companys 1970s-era fleet, including the audio systems used to provide narrative descriptions to riders.

The alternatives proposed range from a baseline alternative, in which no permit would be issued for shuttle operations, to alternatives requiring compliance with new design features involving noise, safety, emissions and other factors.

Documents from the Coronado Forest list these alternatives for future shuttle operations. Forest officials will review the comments to use in their decision on whether to grant a new permit by July 2017:

• Alternative 1 The no-action alternative provides a baseline for comparing the effects of the other proposals. Under this alternative, a permit allowing the shuttle service would not be issued effectively ending the service.

Under Alternative 1, there would be no shuttle service in the canyon, said Heidi Schewel, spokeswoman for the forest. Were not proposing to get rid of the (existing) shuttle. This is just a baseline alternative.

• Alternative 2 Under this alternative, a permit for the operation and maintenance of a shuttle system would be issued. This proposal would mandate compliance with a number of new design features required for shuttles and operations to avoid or reduce adverse environmental effects. These design features would set limitations on noise and mandate compliance with safety and emission standards, protection of natural resources and conformity with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Frequency of service would be slightly modified compared with current levels.

Schewel said this alternative would include maximum speed limits of 15 mph in the recreation area and compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards for shuttle vehicles. It also would include compliance with state motor vehicle emission requirements and limitations on vehicle noise, Schewel said.

• Alternative 3 Current operations: A permit for the operation and maintenance of the existing shuttle system would be issued. Operations and frequency of service would be consistent with todays service.
• Alternative 4 In this alternative, shuttle operations and design features would be identical to Alternative 2, however, this one includes the addition of one early morning shuttle between the hours of 6 and 9 a.m., and one late-evening shuttle between the hours of 5 and 9 p.m.

See the accompanying information boxes to learn where to review the environmental assessment and how to comment on it.

Contact reporter Doug Kreutz at dkreutz@tucson.com or at 573-4192. On Twitter: @DouglasKreutz

Source: http://tucson.com/news/local/speak-out-public-comment-sought-on-sabino-canyon-shuttle-service/article_8dddcc28-fcc4-5903-b63d-9e5a43966b77.html