New Griffith Park Shuttle to View the Hollywood Sign

Good news for the non-hiker and local home-owners in Beachwood Canyon and the Hollywood Hills, but bad news for people who think the trails around Mt. Hollywood and Mt. Lee are too crowded, already. I have pasted below some information from some material being circulated now, and will probably get a formal announcement within days (if it has not already been announced):

The Department of Recreation and Parks, along with Councilmember Tom LaBonge, is launching a three-month promotional shuttle program to a lofty viewing area of the Hollywood Sign and to Griffith Observatory. The promotional program will provide shuttles every Saturday and Sunday, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., starting on Saturday, May 3, 2014, and continuing through the end of July, 2014. The fee will be $7.00 per person, excluding children 2 years of age and under, who are free when riding on the lap of an adult. The air-conditioned shuttles will run in a circular loop from the Greek Theatre to an exclusive spot up Mt. Hollywood Drive, to the Observatory, and back to the Greek (where people will park). Tickets for the shuttles must be purchased online and in advance.

I don't know exactly where this "exclusive" spot will be, but, at the least, it will reduce the hiking distance from the Observatory to both Mt. Lee and Mt. Hollywood. More people. Hopefully, fewer helicopter rescues!

A link to the Recreation and Parks posting on this shuttle is here.