In a recent commentary, “Moab’s economic health is at risk,” published in The Salt Lake Tribune on March 31, a former park service official shared his view that eliminating the Arches National Park timed-entry system was a bad idea.

Timed-entry, which was a pilot program at Arches, was envisioned as a way to manage the increasing number of annual visitors by addressing overcrowding at peak times. I believe we all want a solution that preserves the land and prevents the park from feeling so crowded that visitors can’t enjoy the transformative silence and scale of the red rocks.

When I became a Grand County Commissioner in 2022, I was elected because of my independent and non-partisan attitude. Initially, I didn’t have a problem with timed-entry and viewed it as one of several solid possible solutions. In addition to timed-entry, I also thought that we should consider a shuttle system for Arches. I didn’t think those two options had to be mutually exclusive.

Unfortunately, over the past four years, we’ve learned that the timed-entry pilot program created a major unintended consequence — local and international visitors began to cancel planned trips to Moab when they couldn’t secure a reservation at the park or make sense of the new system. It also became clear that timed-entry was only a bandage on a growing problem that will certainly require a more comprehensive solution.

As our community wrestles with these challenges, I am dismayed that the timed-entry system is the only option some community members will support. I think taking that hard stand against other possibilities is short sighted. It’s also at odds with our shared goals of protecting the natural environment, visitor experience and Moab’s local tourism economy, which has been the lifeblood of our region for many decades.

Furthermore, timed-entry alone won’t address long-term demand. We need to look at diverse alternatives beyond just a single, short sighted solution.

We cannot continue to manage Arches as if it were an era when all visitors could drive their personal vehicles throughout the park. That is no longer the reality. It is unrealistic to plan as if the number of people interested in visiting won’t continue to grow over time, and a timed-entry approach alone will not solve this long-term problem.

While some would argue that transportation alone cannot resolve overcrowding, there are many examples of other national parks that successfully implemented shuttle systems and saw a dramatic improvement in traffic congestion, reduced environmental impact and improved visitor experience. These examples include Zion, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Yosemite, Glacier and Rocky Mountain National Park, to name a few.

By examining this issue from all angles, we have proposed the Access and Capacity Enhancement (ACE) Alternative Plan. The ACE plan is an environmentally thoughtful approach that envisions utilizing a hub-and-spoke shuttle system, based at Balanced Rock, so we can move visitors from Moab to the Visitor Center, and then out to iconic spots like The Windows, Delicate Arch and Devil’s Garden. Combined with a bike path from Utahraptor State Park into the heart of the park and improved trail connectivity between sites like the Garden of Eden and Double Arch, these solutions are designed to reduce vehicle congestion and enhance the experience without turning people away.

Moab’s economy is uniquely dependent on spontaneous and multi-day exploration. I believe there is a balance between ensuring that Arches remains more accessible and active through multi-modal transportation and protecting the park we all care about for generations to come.

To that end, we are committed to working alongside the National Park Service, our local business owners and our residents to find solutions that meet all of our community’s important needs. These needs do not have to be mutually exclusive.

By working together towards a long term solution, we can achieve a win-win that preserves the accessibility of Arches while also protecting the park and ensuring those visiting Moab can enjoy it without feeling shut out or excluded.

Bill Winfield is a Grand County Commissioner.

The Salt Lake Tribune is committed to creating a space where Utahns can share ideas, perspectives and solutions that move our state forward. We rely on your insight to do this. Find out how to share your opinion here, and email us at voices@sltrib.com.