The natural resource stewardship program is the principle means through which the national park service (NPS) evaluates and improves the health of watersheds, landscapes, and marine and coastal…

The National Park Service (NPS) awarded a $4.7 million Cooperative Agreement on July 30, 2025, to the Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) under the Natural Resource Stewardship program (CFDA 15.944) to support year-round operations of the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS). The award, effective through July 29, 2026, funds regularly scheduled public transportation service to Yosemite Valley, with a minimum of five roundtrips operating year-round and two to three additional roundtrips during peak seasons. YARTS provides critical mobility services for disabled, elderly, and other passengers unable or incapable of driving private vehicles to access Yosemite National Park.

YARTS is designed to reduce traffic congestion and parking demand within Yosemite Valley by providing capacity for up to 120,000 passengers annually—equivalent to approximately 40,000 private automobile trips. By leveraging MCAG's authority to plan, operate, and manage regional transportation service and access state and local funding sources, the cooperative agreement directly supports NPS's natural resource stewardship objectives of protecting park ecosystems and improving visitor access while minimizing environmental impacts on park resources. The beneficiaries include the general public and park visitors throughout the region.

The natural resource stewardship program is the principle means through which the national park service (NPS) evaluates and improves the health of watersheds, landscapes, and marine and coastal resources, sustains biological communities on the lands and waters in parks, and actively endeavors to improve the resiliency of these natural resources and adapt them to the effects of weather. To carry out and further this stewardship responsibility, NPS implements programs that encompass a broad range of research, operational, and educational activities by utilizing park personnel and contractor support or cooperative agreements. Yosemite area regional transportation system (yarts) will provide regularly scheduled public transportation service to yosemite valley. Yarts will deliver a minimum of five roundtrips (year-round), with two to three additional roundtrips in peak season at yosemite national park (yose). Yarts provides a means of transportation for the disabled, the elderly, or other travelers who unable or incapable of driving or renting a vehicle to enter yose. Yarts possesses distinct powers and legal authorities to plan, operate, and manage transportation service in their respective jurisdictions outside yose, and to access or leverage state or local funds. Yarts can provide public transportation for up to 120,000 passengers per year, an equivalent of approximately 40,000 private automobile trips per year. This reduces the demand for parking spaces that would otherwise be occupied by private automobiles in yosemite valley and supports the goal of reducing traffic congestion. Beneficiaries include the general public.