National Park Service drops plan for $40 fee hike -- $5 instead

SAN FRANCISCO -- The National Park Service is abandoning its plan to more than double entrance fees at its most popular parks after strong public backlash, announcing Thursday more modest, yet broader price increases instead.

Starting June 1, the cost of a seven-day vehicle pass will increase by $5 at 117 parks, officials said. The parks now charge $15 to $30 for admission. Yosemite's entrance fee will rise to $35.

Last year, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who oversees the Park Service, proposed raising entrance fees to $70 at 17 popular parks, including Yosemite, Sequoia-Kings Canyon and Joshua Tree, in an effort to shore up an $11.6 billion backlog of maintenance work across the agency.

The plan prompted more than 100,000 public comments, the bulk of which opposed the rate hike. Many worried that it would price Americans out of the nation's iconic monuments and landscapes. Several critics praised the Park Service's change of course.

``The public spoke, and the administration listened,'' said Theresa Pierno, president of the National Parks Conservation Association. ``The administration's move to abandon its original proposal in favor of more measured fee increases will put additional funds into enhancing park experiences without threatening visitation or local economies.''

The new fee hike is expected to boost annual admissions revenue, which was $199 million in the 2016 fiscal year, by about $60 million. The earlier plan would have increased annual revenue by an estimated $70 million.

The money raised from the $5 fee increase will remain within the Park Service, with 80 percent of it staying at the park that collects the money. It will be used to upgrade visitor services, officials said, with much of it going to deferred maintenance.

``I want to thank the American people who made their voices heard through the public comment process on the original fee proposal,'' Zinke said, in a statement. ``This is just one of the ways we are carrying out our commitment to ensure that national parks remain world class destinations that provide an excellent value for families from all income levels.''

Still, some panned the fee hike, saying the Trump administration should be raising revenue for the Park Service by increasing the agency's budget, not burdening park users.

``Secretary Zinke's decision to raise all national park entrance fees will barely make a dent in the $11.6 billion maintenance backlog,'' said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D- Calif. ``Instead, this drastic fee hike will make visiting their national parks unaffordable for too many families.''

The prices for both the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass and the Lifetime Senior Pass will remain $80, according to the new plan. Those passes gain entrance into all national parks.

Annual passes for individual parks will increase $5 to $10, depending on the park. The seven-day price of admission for pedestrians, currently $7 to $15, will increase $3 to $5. The seven-day price of admission for motorcyclists, currently $10 to $25, will increase $5.

Most of the Park Service's 417 historical, cultural and ecological sites, such as Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco, are free to enter. These areas will remain free.