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The National Park Service (NPS) National Mall and Memorial Parks (NAMA) Multimodal Strategic Implementation (MSI) Plan is a transportation study centered in the heart of our nation’s capital in Washington, D.C. The NAMA MSI builds off a 2010 National Mall Plan/Environmental Impact Statement.
Many key destinations and corridors in NAMA have historically prioritized the flow of commuter traffic, primarily single-occupancy vehicles, over the convenience of non-motorized travelers and recreational visitors to the National Mall, memorials, parks, and open spaces. The NAMA MSI plan’s primary goal is to safely accommodate the needs of all roadway users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, micromobility users, transit riders, tour bus operators, and motorists.
After an in-depth synthesis of planning documents and transportation data, Volpe’s research team evaluated existing and planned future conditions in five focus areas (Figure 1), developing conceptual recommendations for improvements (Figure 2). Throughout the processes, Volpe maintained close coordination with the NPS National Capital Region, NAMA staff and leadership, and key stakeholders including the Washington D.C. Department of Transportation (DDOT), which operates paths and roadways that abut and/or continue through the project area. Such coordination was critical to ensure that the plan’s recommendations improve regional and network-level connectivity and safety, while also improving local and site-specific conditions.
 Figure 1. Map of all design locations and focus areas
Volpe’s conceptual design recommendations address the unique characteristics of each location but share a common goal of improving safety for vulnerable roadway users and increasing the convenience and network connectivity of multimodal travel options. Crucially, each design proposes some form of modal separation to minimize potential conflicts, creating dedicated spaces for different modes and clarifying roadway movements for travelers.
As a part of the NAMA MSI Plan’s implementation, NPS will consider relevant project timelines to opportunistically program these projects. By planning five years into the future, NPS can take proactive steps to share Volpe’s conceptual designs with contractors to build an understanding of how to improve multimodal access, connectivity, and safety, through planned paving and maintenance projects, while also planning for larger, purpose-built network-level improvement projects.
 Figure 2. Existing conditions and Volpe's design recommendations at Design Location B
Project Contacts: Holly Bostrom, Jonah Chiarenza, and Alexandra McNally
As part of a jointly funded study for the Department of Interior, the US Forest Service, and the US Army Corps of Engineers, Volpe completed the first phase of an electric vehicle (EV) charging station gap analysis that focuses on identifying gaps in the availability of charging stations on the roadways that connect visitors to our Federal lands. This project used geographic information systems (GIS) to map a) the location of each Federal land management agency’s (FLMA) parking lots (or entrances for the Army Corps), b) the visitation of each FLMA unit, c) the location of all direct current (DC) fast-charging stations nationwide, and d) the ready and pending Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Alternative Fuel EV corridors throughout the country (Figure 3).
 Figure 3. Map of EV charging infrastructure and EV corridors in Arizona
The team then highlighted every parking lot (or entrance) that was more than 50 miles away from a DC fast charging station and/or a ready or pending EV corridor. If there was a cluster of multiple highlighted parking lots, and especially if they were from multiple agencies and/or had high visitation, the corridor was flagged as one that could benefit from being designated a ready or pending EV corridor in the future. This designation is given by the Department of Energy to US Highway and Interstate corridors that are slated for future EV charging infrastructure investment by State Departments of Transportation (DOTs).
FLMAs will use these maps as they talk with State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) about investing in corridors that will allow more people to visit Federal lands in EVs. The next phase of this work is to drill down and analyze high-priority corridor gap segments that could benefit FLMAs if they receive more EV charging infrastructure. Concurrent to this effort, several FLMAs are looking into increasing EV charging infrastructure on their lands as well.
Project Contacts: Ben Rasmussen, David Lamb, and Andrew Breck
The Rock Harbor ferry dock on Isle Royale provides cargo unloading and loading as well as access for National Park Service (NPS) employees and visitors via ferry from mainland Michigan and Minnesota. The legacy dock was 210 feet long and 30 feet wide. The largest ship currently using the dock is the Ranger III, operated by the NPS between Isle Royale and Isle Royale National Park (ISRO) Headquarters in Houghton, MI. During Lake Superior low water conditions, the draft of Ranger III was close to the available depth at the legacy dock. Furthermore, during boarding and cargo operations for the Ranger III, the dock became congested, and visitor and staff safety was compromised.
Volpe initiated the construction and improvement of the Rock Harbor dock in September 2021 and completed it in May 2022. The new design called for the installation of 12 new concrete filled steel pipe piles that support a concrete deck which was integrated into the existing concrete deck. The new dock expanded the width of the dock into the lack by 50 percent to 45 feet, which allows the Ranger III to dock in deeper water and improves the resiliency of the facility (Figure 4). The new dock also allows the passenger boarding area to be segregated from the cargo operations area, which improves the safety for visitors and staff.
Along with the dock expansion, Volpe oversaw the design, fabrication, and installation of:
- A new ABA compliant passenger ramp, which allows visitors and staff to move from the dock directly to the Rock Harbor Visitor Center (thereby leaving the existing ramp open for cargo operations),
- New fuel transfer stations to bring the system up to current code,
- New electrical service with circuit breaker panels,
- New dock lighting fixtures that meet the NPS’s Night Sky Initiative,
- New ADA complaint ramp that allows visitors in wheelchairs to traverse the dock areas more easily, and a
- New security fence on the cargo ramp and new OSHA compliant handrails around the dock areas to improve safety and security.
The Volpe Center managed this project and hired Childs Engineering Corp. (Bellingham, MA) to design the dock modifications and MJO Contracting (Hancock, MI) to construct the dock modifications. Funding for this project was provided by 80 percent Ferry Boat Program Funding and a 20 percent NPS match.
 Figure 4. Before and after photos of Rock Harbor dock following dock expansion and other improvements
Project Contact: Ben Rasmussen, Dan Mannheim, and Michael Buonopane
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released its first-ever National Long Range Transportation Plan (NLRTP): Transportation Connections 2040 (Figure 5). The NLRTP is a practical tool to convey the BLM’s strategic goals and vision for travel and transportation planning and transportation asset management to advance the Administration’s priorities established in Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful, a 2021 report from the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture and Commerce, and the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Through the NLRTP, the BLM aims to work collaboratively to manage the multi-modal transportation system that supports the equitable access, connectivity, and safety needs of multiple uses across public lands, while protecting natural, cultural, and historic resources.
 Figure 5. Cover of Transportation Connections 2040, a National Long Range Transportation Plan for the Bureau of Land Management
The BLM’s transportation system connects to larger transportation networks managed by states, counties, municipalities, and tribes. The NLRTP is a resource to increase understanding of the BLM’s transportation program to support future collaboration. In addition to providing critical connections with stakeholders, the BLM’s transportation program benefits a wide range of BLM programs.
The BLM Division of Business, Engineering, and Evaluations and the Division of Recreation and Visitor Services worked collaboratively to develop the NLRTP, with facilitation and technical support from the Volpe Center. Volpe worked with the BLM to conduct outreach with transportation officials from numerous western states which provide critical connectivity and access for the public to enjoy BLM managed public lands. Between 2018 and 2019, Volpe coordinated with an interdisciplinary team of BLM headquarters, state, district, and field office staff as well as the Federal Highway Administration Office of Federal Lands Highway to develop the NLRTP content.
To ensure accountability and link the NLRTP to future investment decisions, the NLRTP incorporates a performance-based framework for implementation and monitoring. The Volpe Center is now working with the BLM to implement the NLRTP using the performance management framework and monitoring program.
Project Contacts: Katie Lamoureux and Erica Simmons
From the earliest days of the auto industry, Michigan has maintained a rich history as an incubator of innovation for Americans on the move. The National Park Service (NPS) and the State of Michigan are taking steps to continue this tradition by partnering to explore emerging mobility technologies and services in and around National Park units in Michigan, signing a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2022 (Figure 6). The Volpe Center is supporting NPS on this partnership, working with the NPS Washington Office, NPS Midwest Regional Office, park units, State of Michigan staff, and regional partners to identify opportunities to pilot and evaluate innovative mobility technologies in National Park settings.
 Figure 6. Michigan Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Director, Brad Garmon, and NPS Director, Charles Sams III, at the historic Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum
Five NPS units in Michigan are participating in this partnership, including Isle Royale National Park, Keweenaw National Historical Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, River Raisin National Battlefield Park, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. These parks are diverse in geographical location, the natural and cultural resources they protect and interpret, and the recreational opportunities they provide visitors. The parks span both of Michigan’s peninsulas and include remote wilderness, natural wonders and recreational areas along Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, and urban locations in both small towns and in large metropolitan areas.
The partnership is currently gathering information from NPS park units and their partners about transportation challenges and opportunities they think could be beneficially addressed through emerging mobility pilots. Later, the partnership plans to develop an industry “challenge,” to solicit ideas from the mobility industry for how specific technologies could be piloted in and around NPS units in Michigan. The most promising ideas will be pursued as pilot deployments once project details and funding are in place.
The partnership is part of the broader NPS Emerging Mobility Program, which is working in numerous locations across the NPS to explore the opportunities and challenges that new mobility technologies pose for the NPS and visitors.
Project Contacts: Kevin McCoy and Chris Crachiola
NPS Publishes Evaluation Report for Automated Shuttle Pilots with Support from the Volpe Center
Volpe supported the NPS to evaluate its first two automated shuttle pilots at Yellowstone National Park and Wright Brothers National Memorial. The full evaluation report, as well as a short summary, are available on the NPS Emerging Mobility webpage.
Ben Rasmussen joined Volpe almost 20 years ago and helped grow the Center’s public lands work from a handful of projects a year with the National Park Service to dozens of projects a year through agreements with every Federal land management agency and several non-Federal public land agencies as well. Early on, Ben thought that the grass was greener outside of Volpe (for him, it wasn’t!) and he left the Center for a few years to work at the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization and at an international environmental non-profit. Ben then returned to Volpe, worked on an increasing number of public lands projects, and became Public Lands Team leader about six years ago.
What public lands projects are you working on now?
I currently manage our portfolio with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the NPS Midwest Region, and the White River National Forest. This means I’m working on a wide variety of projects (which I love since that is the spice of life!) from helping agencies figure out how to most effectively program their funding to ensuring there will be sustainable access to some of our most cherished natural sites across the country. As Public Lands Team leader, I help coordinate our talented team’s work across all of the portfolios and agencies with which we work; this basically means I try to make sure our metaphorical right hand is talking to our left hand.
What are your fondest memories of public lands?
Growing up in Colorado, I have many great memories of camping, hiking, and skiing with friends and family in the Rocky Mountain West. With two active middle school sons, we are now creating similar memories in new places in the Midwest and East Coast as well as in the Rockies.
 Figure 7. Ben and his son on a cold spring day at Indiana Dunes National Park
What new public land have you discovered since working at Volpe?
Many! We moved to Minneapolis from Cambridge 12 years ago so have had the opportunity to visit countless Federal, state, and local public lands in both the Midwest and New England. If I had to choose a favorite, I would have to say Isle Royale National Park, which is an incredible place in the middle of Lake Superior with no roads and very little development.
What’s the most unique, interesting, or strangest job you had before working at Volpe?
The most unique, interesting, AND strangest job I had was that I monitored the water quality of the Biosphere 2 in Arizona for a semester when I was an undergrad. At the time, Columbia University owned the Biosphere and all students had to perform a campus job. I was thrilled with my assignment, but one day I… um… spilled some chemicals into one of the biome water sources. Long story short, they had to drain the Biosphere and re-fill it with water. Whoops! :/
If you were to have a job that wasn’t transportation or public lands related, what would it be?
If I had the skills, I would have loved to have been a professional soccer player. Though I never did, I’m still enjoying playing in my “old” men's recreational league every Sunday.
Contact: Ben Rasmussen
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