Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00606
The grant opportunity titled "Providing Alternative Transportation at Joshua Tree National Park" (Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00606) is a National Park Service (Department of the Interior) funding action intended to advance planning and implementation steps for a visitor shuttle or similar alternative transit system serving Joshua Tree National Park (JOTR) and surrounding gateway communities. The work is framed as a cooperative effort between the National Park Service and the Morongo Basin Transit Authority (MBTA), a joint powers authority that provides transit service to ten communities in the Morongo Basin and shares overlapping transportation planning and management interests with NPS in and around the park.
The core problem this project responds to is the sharp growth in park visitation over several decades. According to NPS visitor statistics cited in the notice, annual visits increased from roughly 545,000 in 1980 to nearly 2,023,000 by 2015. That growth has created practical visitor-service strains, especially heavier traffic and insufficient parking, while also increasing pressure on park resources. Air quality is a related concern: because JOTR sits within the Coachella Valley and Los Angeles air basins, regions that have seen significant population and development growth since 1980, the Environmental Protection Agency has noted that air within the park exceeds acceptable ozone concentration levels. In this context, reducing vehicle trips and congestion through shared transit is presented as a strategy that can support both resource protection and a better visitor experience.
The project is modeled on approaches used elsewhere in the National Park System, where alternative transportation has been used to manage congestion and limit environmental impacts. The announcement points to examples where NPS has partnered with local and regional entities to implement transit systems, including Grand Canyon National Park, Muir Woods National Monument, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Yosemite National Park, and Zion National Park. These precedents are used to justify exploring a similar solution at Joshua Tree.
The notice also summarizes the history leading up to this action. Discussions about a shuttle partnership began in March 2012 when JOTR and MBTA met to explore the concept. By December 2012, a request was made to the NPS Business Management group for a business plan analysis, reflecting the need to evaluate feasibility and operational realities before launching service. In fall 2013, JOTR partnered with the University of California at Irvine to conduct research and produce an Alternative Transportation Analysis, which included a transportation feasibility study. Using the information from that work, MBTA and NPS agreed to jointly explore the options and the practical steps needed to identify, administer, and implement the work required to make a visitor shuttle program achievable.
Administratively, this opportunity is categorized as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement, under a natural resources funding activity (CFDA 15.954). The listed eligible applicant type is nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). However, the announcement is explicitly labeled a "NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD" and states it is not a request for applications. In other words, it is a public notice that NPS intends to fund a specific project under an existing cooperative agreement with MBTA rather than run an open competition. The award ceiling is listed as $229,800, and the expected number of awards is shown as zero, consistent with the fact that this is not an open solicitation but a notice tied to an existing agreement. The notice was created on August 3, 2017, with an original closing date of August 17, 2017, reflecting the administrative window for the public notice rather than a standard application deadline.
In practical terms, the opportunity is about moving from analysis and feasibility work toward concrete implementation planning for an alternative transportation system at Joshua Tree, with the overarching goals of easing congestion and parking shortages, improving the visitor experience, and reducing vehicle-related impacts such as air pollution and resource degradation.Apply for P17AS00606
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Providing Alternative Transportation at Joshua Tree National Park" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.954.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 03, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 17, 2017 NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD. This is NOT a request for application. This funding announcement is to provide public notice that the National Park Service will fund the following project under an existing Cooperative Agreement with MBTA. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $229,800.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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FAQs: Providing Alternative Transportation at Joshua Tree National Park (P17AS00606)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Providing Alternative Transportation at Joshua Tree National Park."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P17AS00606.
Which federal agency is associated with this funding action?
This funding action is associated with the National Park Service (NPS), within the Department of the Interior.
What is the main purpose of this funding action?
The purpose is to advance planning and implementation steps for a visitor shuttle or similar alternative transit system serving Joshua Tree National Park (JOTR) and surrounding gateway communities.
What type of transportation project is being considered?
The notice describes a visitor shuttle or a similar alternative transit system intended to reduce reliance on individual vehicle trips to and within the park area.
Who are the key partners mentioned for this project?
The work is framed as a cooperative effort between the National Park Service and the Morongo Basin Transit Authority (MBTA).
What is MBTA, as described in the notice?
MBTA is described as a joint powers authority that provides transit service to ten communities in the Morongo Basin and has overlapping transportation planning and management interests with NPS in and around Joshua Tree National Park.
Why is alternative transportation being pursued at Joshua Tree National Park?
The notice links the need to long-term growth in visitation and the resulting strain on visitor services, including heavier traffic and insufficient parking, along with increased pressure on park resources. It also highlights air quality concerns and positions reduced vehicle trips and congestion as part of the strategy to address those issues.
What visitation trend is cited as a driver for this project?
NPS visitor statistics cited in the notice indicate annual visits increased from roughly 545,000 in 1980 to nearly 2,023,000 by 2015.
What specific visitor-service issues does the notice mention?
The notice mentions heavier traffic and insufficient parking as key visitor-service strains associated with increased visitation.
What environmental or resource concerns does the notice connect to vehicle traffic?
The notice states that increased visitation and traffic create added pressure on park resources. It also discusses air quality concerns, including ozone concentration levels that exceed acceptable levels within the park, as noted by the Environmental Protection Agency.
How does air quality factor into the rationale for the project?
The notice explains that Joshua Tree National Park sits within the Coachella Valley and Los Angeles air basins, areas that have experienced population and development growth since 1980, and it notes EPA findings that ozone concentrations in the park exceed acceptable levels. Reducing vehicle trips through shared transit is presented as one way to help address this.
Does the notice cite examples of similar transportation systems in other national parks?
Yes. The notice references other National Park System units where alternative transportation has been used to manage congestion and limit environmental impacts, including Grand Canyon National Park, Muir Woods National Monument, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Yosemite National Park, and Zion National Park.
How long has the shuttle concept been discussed for Joshua Tree?
The notice describes discussions beginning in March 2012, when JOTR and MBTA met to explore the concept.
What planning or research steps occurred before this funding action?
The notice summarizes several steps: in December 2012 a request was made to the NPS Business Management group for a business plan analysis; in fall 2013 JOTR partnered with the University of California at Irvine to conduct research and produce an Alternative Transportation Analysis that included a transportation feasibility study; and, based on that work, MBTA and NPS agreed to jointly explore options and practical steps needed to identify, administer, and implement the work required to make a visitor shuttle program achievable.
Is this opportunity an open solicitation where applicants can apply?
No. The announcement is explicitly labeled a "NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD" and states it is not a request for applications. It functions as a public notice that NPS intends to fund a specific project under an existing cooperative agreement with MBTA rather than run an open competition.
What kind of award instrument is described?
The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement.
What is the CFDA number and funding activity category listed in the notice?
The notice lists CFDA 15.954 and identifies the activity as a natural resources funding activity.
Who is listed as an eligible applicant type?
The notice lists eligible applicants as nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education).
If nonprofits are listed as eligible, why is there no application process?
Based on the notice text, the listing of eligibility does not change the fact that this announcement is a Notice of Intent to Award and not a request for applications. The notice indicates NPS intends to fund work under an existing cooperative agreement with MBTA, rather than conduct an open competition.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling) mentioned?
The award ceiling listed in the notice is $229,800.
How many awards are expected, according to the notice?
The expected number of awards is shown as zero, which aligns with the notice being tied to an existing cooperative agreement rather than an open solicitation.
When was the notice created and what closing date is shown?
The notice was created on August 3, 2017, and it shows an original closing date of August 17, 2017. The notice describes this as an administrative window for the public notice rather than a standard application deadline.
What stage of work is this funding intended to support?
The notice frames the work as moving from analysis and feasibility efforts toward concrete implementation planning steps needed to make an alternative transportation system achievable.
What overarching outcomes does the notice associate with a shuttle or alternative transit system?
The notice connects the concept to easing congestion and parking shortages, improving the visitor experience, and reducing vehicle-related impacts such as air pollution and resource degradation.
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