TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction 1 II. Goals and Objectives 2 III. Planning Considerations and Design Guidelines 2 A. Site Characteristics 2 B. Sense of Arrival and Park Service Presence 4 C. Cohesive Architectural Character 5 D. Views 5 E. User Appeal 5 F. Ease of Access 5 G. System Capacity and Operational Considerations 6 H. Implementation Considerations 6 IV. Visitation Analysis 7 A. Existing Conditions 7 1. Seasonal Patterns 7 2. Daily Patterns 8 3. Hourly Patterns 9 B. Historical Trends in Visitation Levels 10 C. Projected Visitation Conditions 10 V. Operational Requirements 11 A. Frequency of Service 11 B. System Capacity 11 VI. Transportation and Parking Alternatives 14 A. Description of Alternatives 14 1. Shuttle Bus with No Rim Parking 14 2a. Elevated Funicular Railway 16 2b. Aerial Gondola 18 3. Shuttle Bus with Surface and Structured Rim Parking 20 4. Shuttle Bus with Structured Rim Parking 20 5. All Parking on Rim 20 3. TABLE OF CONTENTS, continued B. Hours of Operation by Alternative 21 C. Comparison of Alternatives 23 1. Vehicular Impact on the Crater Rim 23 2. User Criteria 24 3. Environmental Criteria 27 4. Operations Criteria 30 5. System Costs 33 VII. Summary 38 VIII. Recommendations 39 IX. List of References 40 APPENDIX A: Excerpt From 50 Percent Phase Technical Memorandum . . . Al APPENDIX B: Response to NPS Review Comments Bl