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Letter, The Arizona Republic, 1 August 2000
It was truly amazing to read about Dennis Foster's proposal to relieve traffic congestion at the Grand Canyon National Park by building more parking spaces. Setting aside for a moment the appalling concept of piney forests becoming an ocean of asphalt, consider his premise. Would anyone seriously suggest that Phoenix could alleviate its highway congestion by building more parking lots downtown? Of course not. Nor will cutting trees to house yet more cars at the Canyon solve the problems there. Indeed, how far do we go to further the misplaced mystique of the automobile? Do we build high-rise parking garages at Mather Point and at the campgrounds for cars and RV's?
Public transit like the proposed light rail will indeed work at the Canyon. Rail is a proven success -- the Grand Canyon Railway carried over 165,000 persons last year from Williams to the South Rim. The proposed light rail system will complement this service.
Properly located and coordinated light rail at the Grand Canyon, the Grand Canyon Railway trains, and the connecting Amtrak service will go a long way toward making the Arizona Grand Canyon experience more fun for our State's visitors. More cars with their air pollution at the canyon won't help.
What is truly ironic is that the Goldwater Institute does complete injustice to the person whose name they carry. During his lifetime, Senator Goldwater often expressed the thought, both written and orally, that a rail system like the one now proposed be included in the park's plan.
William Lindley
President, Arizona Rail Passenger Association