Trump could make visiting a national park more expensive than a Six Flags ticket

[octoberlib]

The Trump administration is considering substantial increases in entrance fees to 17 of the most popular national parks during their peak season, asking Americans to pay prices that rival the gate costs of amusement parks such as Six Flags and Busch Gardens.

Starting as early as January, the entrance fee for a single automobile would go from $25 to $70 at Joshua Tree National Park in California — the largest price increase since World War II. A similar increase at 12 more parks would take effect in May and then at the final four in June. The cost of riding a motorcycle into the parks would rise to $50 and walking or biking in would cost $30.

In a statement, the National Park Service said the fee increases would raise $70 million more toward addressing an $11 billion backlog in park maintenance to repair deteriorating buildings, restrooms and roads. “The infrastructure of our national parks is aging and in need of renovation and restoration,” Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said in a statement announcing the decision this week. “Targeted fee increases at some of our most-visited parks will help ensure that they are protected and preserved in perpetuity and that visitors enjoy a world-class experience that mirrors the amazing destinations they are visiting.”

The statement does not mention the president’s 2018 budget proposal to cut nearly $400 million from the parks. Nor does it mention bipartisan bills in Congress that would divert $12 billion in federal oil and gas royalties from the national treasury to fund the parks’ maintenance backlog over 30 years. Zinke and the Trump administration have yet to publicly support or oppose the bills, known collectively as the National Park Service Legacy Act.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/10/26/trump-could-make-visiting-a-national-park-more-expensive-than-a-six-flags-ticket/?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories_nationalparks-335pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.63e93d96c2aa

[Docreed2003]

1. And yet the defense budget will never see one cent cut from its budget!

[BigmanPigman]

2. I HATE THE GOP!!!

[argyl]

3. National Park fees go into the general fund, not for Park maintenance.

[octoberlib]

4. They're trying to make up for tax breaks for billionaires in any little way they can.

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. Taxes we pay are supposed to pay for this.

Having to pay big fees is double taxation.

[Comatose Sphagetti]

6. The GOP goal:

Hike the fees and attendance drops. Then scream, "No one even goes there anymore! We're spending billions for upkeep! Waste! God-fearing, Patriotic American taxpayers are being screwed!"
Then sell the parks.

[octoberlib]

7. I had this thought, too. They're hoping attendance will drop so they can sell off the parks.

[0rganism]

8. that should go a long way to getting those pesky national parks sold off to industrialists

much higher prices = far fewer people visit
fewer people visit = revenue loss
revenue loss = on the budgetary chopping block
so the DOI and BLM can sell them off to the highest bidder, probably someone closely tied to Koch Industries
goodbye national parks, i didn't visit you nearly as much as i could have, always figured there would be more time.