A boost in funding for the Park Service to address much needed road and bridge needs could help pay to replace this aged and deteriorating bridge crossing the Lewis River in Yellowstone National Park/NPS

Legislation has been introduced to the U.S. Senate that, if finds its way into law, would increase highway funding to the National Park Service by almost a quarter.

Sponsored by Sens. John Barrasso, a Republican from Wyoming, and Tom Carper, a Delaware Democrat, America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act calls for a 21 percent increase in funding for road repairs in the park system.

“This legislation comes at a critical time for the country and our national parks,” said Emily Douce, director of operations and park funding for the National Parks Conservation Association. “There are crumbling roads along the Blue Ridge Parkway, aging bridges in Great Smoky Mountains, and outdated shuttle buses in Zion. Our national parks are scraping by on shoestring budgets, while facing billions of dollars in needed repairs and updates to their aging infrastructure and transportation systems.

"In fact, more than half of the Park Service’s $11.9 billion maintenance backlog is comprised of transportation needs," she added Monday. "This bill is a big step in the right direction. If enacted, this would provide critical funding to repair important roads, bridges and park transit systems to ensure millions of visitors can continue to experience and enjoy national parks now and for years to come.”

The bill has a long way to go before becoming law. First it has to get out of committee, be passed by the Senate, and then the House of Representatives must concur.