[Ontbirds]Pelee - Tram Changes

[Michael Carlson]

   This email was approved by the Ontbirds coordinator.
   Birders,
   Those  planning  to  come  to Point Pelee this year should be aware of
   changes  in  the  operation  of the tram or transport from the Visitor
   Centre to the Tip.  These changes are as follows:
   1)  There  will  only  be one two-car tram operating every 20 minutes.
   The  other  transports were deemed unsafe and were taken off the road.
   This  means  there  will  be no second tram to handle overflows on the
   peak  weekends  in  May  as  in the past,.  For at least the first two
   weekends  in May, it may be wise to plan on taking the tram 20 minutes
   before the time you are interested in.  This way you will likely be in
   the  queue  for  the tram time you want.  According to Marian Stranak,
   Superintendent  of  Point Pelee National Park, the park is negotiating
   with  a  local  bus company to provide transport in the unlikely event
   that the existing tram fails.
   2)  The  last  tram will leave the Visitor Centre at 5 pm.  (The first
   one still will leave at 6 am until May 20, when it leaves at 10 am.)
   3)  The  tram  will  no longer stop at the halfway point for people to
   embark or disembark.
   4)  Parks Canada HQ this year rejected Point Pelee's request for a new
   transport  system,  according  to  Ms.  Stranak.    She is hopeful and
   indicated  that  the  park  is  committed to trying to implement a new
   system.   A  Friends  of  Point  Pelee  representative indicated to me
   recently  that  the  organization  is  considering  the possibility of
   raising funds for a new tram.
   Ms.  Stranak indicated that park staff will be looking closely at user
   comments  concerning  the changes in the tram schedule, and assured me
   that  the  park  would  reconsider  these  changes  if  they adversely
   affected   visitors'   experience  of  the  park,  based  on  feedback
   received.
   Blessings,
   Mike Carlson
   Royal Oak, MI