Background
In 2017, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) received $100M from the Utah State Legislature (SB277) to improve transportation to recreation “hot spots” in Utah. UDOT decided to allocate $66M to study ski-related traffic in Little Cottonwood Canyon (LCC).
UDOT began evaluating traffic solutions. Because of the large scale and potential impacts of their project, they were required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to follow the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Process.
During the EIS Process, UDOT evaluated 124 traffic mitigation strategies for LCC. These included various bus systems, gondolas, and cog rail as their main transportation alternatives, and minor improvements such as snowsheds and trailhead improvements as “sub-alternatives”.
In July 2023, UDOT completed the final step in the EIS process by publishing the Record of Decision in which they state that they will pursue the gondola with phased implementation.
UDOT’s Gondola Proposal
UDOT’s final decision regarding the LCC transportation project is “Phased Implementation of Gondola B”. This involves three phases, beginning with improved bus service and ultimately resulting in the construction of the gondola. UDOT’s plan did not include a concrete timeline or intermediate evaluations to determine if Phases 1 or 2 are successful at reducing traffic.
Phase 1 involves operating a temporary “Improved and Increased Bus Service” from a single mobility hub – the Gravel Pit. Tolling and restrictions on roadside parking would be introduced when the bus service is operational.
During Phase 2, UDOT would expand Wasatch Boulevard, construct Snow Sheds, and improve trailheads.
Finally, Phase 3 would involve constructing the gondola and associated infrastructure (access roads and a 2,500 stall parking structure). Once the gondola is operational, UDOT intends to cease the bus service.
Reasons we oppose the gondola
Cost to Utahns
Taxpayers would be responsible for funding the gondola project, while private businesses would be the beneficiaries.
Most recently, UDOT estimated the gondola project would cost $1.2 billion (p. 58). To put the cost in context, the budget for the State of Utah was $29.4 billion for fiscal year 2025, with $2.94B being appropriated for all transportation projects throughout the entire state (p. 1-4).
A $1.2+ billion dollar gondola would equate to over $1,000 per household but this gondola would not even fix traffic in its neighboring canyon, Big Cottonwood.
The gondola would be an ineffective traffic solution
UDOT did not design the gondola system to reduce traffic significantly. The gondola is only designed to reduce traffic by 30%, so 70% of the traffic would still be on the road. Additionally, the gondola system is designed to increase the number of people at the resorts by over 2,000 people/day (p. 6-31).
The gondola system would funnel all LCC-goers to the mouth of the canyon, which would create a serious traffic issue.
Threat to Salt Lake Valley’s drinking water
Little Cottonwood Canyon is a vital watershed that supplies drinking water to an estimated 450,000 people daily in the Salt Lake Valley.
The proposed gondola project poses both immediate and long-term risks to water quality. According to UDOT, construction activities could introduce contaminants into the watershed, potentially forcing public utilities to suspend use of the affected water for household consumption and municipal distribution.
The public opposes the gondola
During the study process, UDOT was required by federal law to collect public comments, the majority of which expressed negative sentiments about the gondola proposal.
Additionally, several local governments including Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, the Town of Alta, and Cottonwood Heights have passed resolutions condemning the gondola.
Degradation of the viewshed
The gondola would involve 22 skyscraper-sized towers at an average height of 181 feet and maximum height of 262 feet spanning LCC. Most of the towers would feature flashing lights.
Currently the canyon is designated as a “scenic byway” because of its beauty and minimal impact by manmade features. With the gondola, the towers and gondola cabins would dominate the view, and, even accoriding to UDOT, the gondola would have the highest impact to the viewshed.
The gondola would not operate during avalanche mitigation
It is a common misconception that the gondola would provide access to the canyon during avalanche conditions, but this is not true. According to UDOT, the gondola would not run during avalanche mitigation or interlodge (p. 2-89).