GRAND CANYON VILLAGE, Ariz. -- Tour bus operators are seeing improvements -- and should see even more -- at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon under a comprehensive visitor transportation plan approved by National Park Service officials.

The improvements include more parking spaces for tour buses and sharply reduced wait times for buses to access the park.

Construction of the new parking lots is expected to begin next year, with completion targeted for sometime in 2010, said Maureen Oltrogge, a Park Service spokeswoman.

"Some of the changes will be positive for commercial tour operators,"

Oltrogge said. "One is the design of the Canyon View Information Plaza. Currently there is temporary bus parking there. The plan will provide for permanent bus parking at the plaza and put it closer to the rim.

That will enable bus passengers, especially elderly passengers and those who may have trouble with the higher elevation, to more easily walk to the rim and back to their bus. It will also put them closer to services at the plaza."

In addition, three parking spaces at Bright Angel Point will be exclusively for commercial tour bus drop-offs, Oltrogge said. Parking spaces for buses at Mather Point will be closer to the rim, giving passengers the option of walking or taking a shuttle, she said.

"More parking spaces closer to the rim thats the biggest and most positive element for commercial tour buses," Oltrogge added.

Improvements already in place have shortened the lines and reduced the time it takes for tour buses to get through the south entrance to the park. Many of the tours originate in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and cutting down on the waits reduces the overall trip time.

"That was a concern of tour operators," Oltrogge said. "The waits add to the time drivers can be behind the wheel."

Wait times were as long as an hour, Oltrogge said. "We are now down to a maximum of 15 minutes and we hope to cut it to 10 minutes."

The new South Rim Visitor Transportation Plan was proposed by the National Park Service in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service. The option selected addresses the most pressing traffic, parking and visitor access issues in Grand Canyon Village.

Improving visitor transportation facilities and services, such as parking and shuttle buses; making the most effective use of existing visitor facilities and services, and reducing safety risks due to conflicts between pedestrians, parked vehicles and moving traffic near Mather Point and elsewhere in Grand Canyon Village are issues that are addressed in the plan, according to the Park Service.

Under this phase, the National Park Service will construct new visitor parking at Canyon View Information Plaza and initiate a new shuttle bus route to the gateway community of Tusayan. It will all be done in collaboration with adjacent communities, businesses, partners and other agencies to address South Rim visitor transportation needs.

The initial phase of development includes:

Vehicle access to the parks visitor center at the Canyon View Information Plaza with parking for up to 600 private vehicles (including RVs) and 40 commercial tour bus parking spaces (and other physical improvements).

A management program to closely monitor and evaluate vehicular traffic, parking use and shuttle bus ridership to determine the timing and requirements for future improvements.

A coordinated program of visitor information and marketing strategies to encourage visitors to travel into and through the park on shuttle buses.

Initiation of the pilot shuttle bus route between Tusayan and the plaza began June 2, to test its feasibility and evaluate the effectiveness of providing this service in the future.

Over time, depending on conditions, the Park Service will construct up to 300 additional parking spaces at the plaza and/or up to 400 parking spaces with supporting shuttle bus loading and visitor facilities on Kaibab National Forest land immediately north of Tusayan.

"This is an exciting step for us," said Park Superintendent Steve Martin. "Grand Canyon is a world class national park and we want to provide a first class experience for everyone who comes to see it. The new transportation system will provide visitors with enhanced opportunities to plan their visit at Canyon View Information Plaza, including access to improved information about trip planning, park orientation, and better options for getting in and around the park."