Protect Red Buses

I’m sure you’ve heard from others about the National Park Service’s plan for the new concessionaire retiring some of the recently restored red buses.

As a Montanan, as someone who loves the Park, and as someone who spent three summers driving those historic and iconic buses, I hope something can be done to save them all.

I’m sure if you asked anyone who visits the Park, in addition to the natural majesty of the mountains, lakes, trees and streams, the Red Buses are something that they will say made their visit special. People love the buses.

There doesn’t seem to be any real economic difference between restoring the buses and replacing them, so why would anyone want to replace them? I’m sure there would be an economic impact in tourism if the buses were retired, too.

I don’t know what can be done to save the buses — it seems the Park Service hasn’t allowed for a public comment period. Maybe someone from your office can intercede to find out why the Park Service wants to retire some of the buses and what can be done to change their mind.

Doug Cook

Columbia Falls