Glacier National Park’s free shuttle service on Going-to-the-Sun Road started operating Thursday and will continue through the summer until Labor Day.

The shuttles provide visitors with “step-on, step-off, no frills” transportation from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to locations along Sun Road and the Apgar Village area.

The last evening buses depart from Logan Pass to destinations on the east and west sides of the park at 7 p.m.

The shuttle system started in 2007 as part of the park’s program to reduce vehicle traffic on Sun Road and to minimize impacts on visitors while the road is going through a comprehensive, multiyear road rehabilitation project.

This year, there is a new shuttle stop at a different location on Logan Pass that was installed to improve traffic flow and safety for vehicles and pedestrians.

In 2009, 156,726 people used the shuttle service, about 50,000 more than in 2008.

There are alternative services that provide guided tours: Sun Tours provides a Blackfeet perspective of the park, and the historic red buses that are operated by Glacier Park Inc.

Visitors should plan for no more than a 40-minute construction delay when traveling the entire length of the Sun Road one way.

Night work is scheduled for Monday evening through Friday morning from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. on the west side of the Continental Divide with no passage allowed during the entire 10-hour night shift.

Sun Road on the east side of the Divide has the same night-time restrictions, but there is one short, 15-minute window for passage through the construction zone at 2 a.m.

There is no night work scheduled for Friday through Sunday nights. The popular Highline Trail currently is closed from Logan Pass to the Haystack Butte saddle and is projected to open for the season the weekend of July 10, conditions permitting.

The Inside North Fork Road has reopened after minor road repairs due to recent flooding. Logging Creek and Quartz Creek campgrounds opened Thursday. Only three of the seven camping sites at Logging Creek currently are available due to flooding.

Granite Park Chalet is open and Sperry Chalet opens Wednesday, July 7. All other park concessions are open.

Park officials are reminding visitors to be extremely careful around bridges and rocks near water, which tend to be slippery from water, algae and moss.