(4000 x 2518) July 2, 2011. Nearly 230,000 visitors per year arrive at the Historic Grand Canyon Depot via the Grand Canyon Railway, which is an important component of the park's transportation system. Bus tours serving train passengers had loaded just north of the tracks in a small parking area off of Village Loop Drive adjacent to the Depot. Because space was limited, buses were required to back into the parking spaces or queue on the north side of the Depot. These maneuvers combined with hundreds of passengers crossing the street in the same area led to a frustrating experience for many visitors and posed a safety risk.

This project moved the tour bus loading function to an alternate location south of the tracks to mitigate much of the congestion north of the Depot, dispersed pedestrian traffic and improved safety. The project also greatly improved the integrity of the Grand Canyon Village Historic District, where the Depot is located.