National Park Service Continues Accessibility Improvements in Stehekin: Public Input Sought for the Stehekin Ferry Landing

The National Park Service is seeking public input on the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Stehekin Winter Ferry Landing Improvement Project. This project will provide universal access at the Stehekin Ferry Landing for all passengers traveling via the commercial ferry system. It is part of over $2 million dollars in work that has been completed or is planned to improve the accessibility of facilities and services in Stehekin.

“We want people to come and visit Stehekin,” said North Cascades National Park Complex Superintendent Chip Jenkins. “To encourage this, we have invested in new accessible shuttle buses and are currently remodeling the restrooms at the Stehekin Landing Resort to make them accessible. This ferry landing improvement project is part of our overall effort to upgrade facilities to improve their accessibility for visitors to Stehekin.”

The Stehekin Winter Ferry Landing Improvement Project will enhance passenger safety and experience by improving accessibility to and from the ferries. The need for this proposal was first identified in the 1995 General Management Plan for Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. The specific alternatives presented in the EA were developed in response to the Americans with Disability Act Accessibility Guidelines and National Park Service directives which state that park transportation systems shall be “universally designed” to provide the highest levels of accessibility for mobility impaired persons.

“Your input is needed to develop the best possible project.” said Jenkins. “So come to one of the public meetings or submit your comments online.”

Public meetings are scheduled as follows:

Thursday, March 18
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Campbell’s Resort, East-West Conference Room
104 W. Woodin Street, Chelan

This meeting will include a presentation followed by a public comment session.

Friday, March 19
4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Golden West Visitor Center, Stehekin

This meeting will begin at the Golden West Visitor Center with a presentation about the project, then move (weather permitting) to the Stehekin Ferry Landing to answer questions and discuss the project on-site with National Park Service staff and project engineers.

Public comments can also be provided online.

Visit http:// www.nps.gov/noca/parkmgmt/ferry.htm to access the EA and instructions for submitting written comments.

To receive full consideration, comments must be post-marked (if sent via regular mail) or submitted (if sent online) by April 2, 2010.