Carbon County officials are hoping that opening Mauch Chunk Lake Park’s parking lot to visitors will help with parking issues during the October Fall Foliage weekends.

Last week, the board of commissioners approved an agreement with LANTA to provide shuttle services on Saturdays and Sundays in October, beginning Oct. 7, from Mauch Chunk Lake Park to the Mauch Chunk Opera House. Each weekend in October brings thousands of visitors to Jim Thorpe and parking is a big issue, creating problems once the county-owned parking lot in downtown Jim Thorpe is full.

The shuttles will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. between the two stops.

LANTA will then calculate the revenue generated by the added trips during the month. The guaranteed revenue to LANTA is $12,161.28.

Earlier this year, the county partnered with LANTA to create a Beach Bus, which operates on Saturdays through Labor Day to help the Panther Valley and Jim Thorpe residents utilize Mauch Chunk Lake.