Town at entrance to Zion National Park faces traffic woes amid federal worker cuts

SPRINGDALE, Washington County — Although it's still considered the off-season, Presidents Day weekend gave a small Utah town a glimpse of what may be to come.

"We're used to traffic, but this will make things a lot more difficult," said Barbara Bruno, mayor of Springdale, in Washington County.

Traffic usually spills into Springdale, with people waiting to get into Zion National Park during the busy season.

However, with the recent decrease in park workers due to federal cuts, Bruno noted that only one entry lane into the park was open, resulting in significant traffic congestion.

"A lot of people who live in Springdale simply can't get to their homes," she said.

The mayor explained that firings and rescinded seasonal jobs resulting from President Donald Trump's federal worker cuts have led to about a hundred fewer workers at Zion National Park.

The park receives nearly 5 million visitors each year. Bruno worried about the impacts of the federal cuts on the small town.

"I think that it will just be hard on the resource itself, the national park. It'll be hard on the residents of Springdale, and I think visitors won't have as good of an experience because they'll be in longer lines, and they'll be more restricted on what they can do," Bruno said.

She mentioned that many people working within the park are worried but cannot speak out for fear of losing their jobs.

"I'm very concerned both for the people who have lost their jobs and their livelihoods, but I'm very concerned for the town of Springdale. Because while people will still probably visit Zion National Park, I think there will be a lot more congestion in the town," she said.

To help alleviate the traffic problem, shuttles will bring visitors to popular sites within the park beginning in March.

KSL-TV asked Zion National Park about the anticipated reduction in workers and its potential impact but was referred to the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. The federal agency has not responded as of the time of publication.

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