Post by Logan on Feb 22, 2016 0:01:30 GMT -6
LYNDHURST — The cost of delaying maintenance in Shenandoah National Park is starting to add up. In a report released last week, park officials detailed that the number now stands at more than $90 million, thanks to years of cutbacks from the federal government. Those delays are also starting to have an impact on park facilities.
“Deferred maintenance refers to maintenance that is necessary to keep our infrastructure in good shape, but has been put off for more than a year,” said National Park Service spokesperson Sally Hurlbert. “There are many deferred maintenance projects in the park.”
All total in Virginia, the number runs even higher, to $816.3 million worth of deferred projects in the various parks. Shenandoah National Park has roads and overlooks in need of repair, along with visitor centers, trails, campgrounds, drinking water systems and wastewater treatment areas. The biggest need is to repair paved roads, at a cost of $56.1 million in Shenandoah. Repair of unpaved roads total a cost of $6.4 million, with issues in the water systems requiring a $6 million renovation.
Coming out of the recession, Congress has tried to address the backlog. This year, Congress gave the National Park Service an extra $90 million for non-transportation issues and an extra $28 million for transportation issues. Funds will continue to rise by $8 million per year for five years, until it reaches $300 million total per year in 2020.
Read more: www.richmond.com/news/virginia/article_d20bcf2c-d90b-11e5-aafe-a3ae271333e4.html
“Deferred maintenance refers to maintenance that is necessary to keep our infrastructure in good shape, but has been put off for more than a year,” said National Park Service spokesperson Sally Hurlbert. “There are many deferred maintenance projects in the park.”
All total in Virginia, the number runs even higher, to $816.3 million worth of deferred projects in the various parks. Shenandoah National Park has roads and overlooks in need of repair, along with visitor centers, trails, campgrounds, drinking water systems and wastewater treatment areas. The biggest need is to repair paved roads, at a cost of $56.1 million in Shenandoah. Repair of unpaved roads total a cost of $6.4 million, with issues in the water systems requiring a $6 million renovation.
Coming out of the recession, Congress has tried to address the backlog. This year, Congress gave the National Park Service an extra $90 million for non-transportation issues and an extra $28 million for transportation issues. Funds will continue to rise by $8 million per year for five years, until it reaches $300 million total per year in 2020.
Read more: www.richmond.com/news/virginia/article_d20bcf2c-d90b-11e5-aafe-a3ae271333e4.html