Cost Effective Solutions Exists. Let’s implement them now!
Little Cottonwood Canyon experiences congestion on a limited number of days each year. We advocate for proven, cost-effective solutions that would not put unnecessary burden on taxpayer:
Immediate solutions
Near-term solutions
Merge equity: Snowbird parking exits #1, #3, #4 only, during end-of-day peak periods/days.
Improved bus service: Restore historic UTA routes to 87 buses/day, on both routes 994 and 953, rather than the current 23 buses on only route 994. As demand requires, add more buses and include express buses to both Alta and Snowbird. All of this will encourage ridership, facilitating faster transit with no need to visit each resort’s parking areas, leading to a smoother, more efficient ride. Purchase new electric buses for peak demand and better air quality.
Permit parking programs: Manage peak-hour traffic with permit parking hours/days will ensure a pleasant experience for all visitors. Three of the 4 Cottonwood Canyon resorts have permit parking which demonstrate reduced traffic congestion on the roadway even in former peak periods. Encourage Snowbird to adopt the same, permit/reservation system.
Enforcing existing traction laws and impose new winter tires requirements. The coalition believes when severe winter weather conditions are forecast, UDOT should staff police officers at the mouth of the canyon to refuse entry to vehicles not properly equipped with traction control devices, including chains, snow tires and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive. In addition, the current traction law is inadequate as it ONLY requires proper equipment be on the vehicle when “severe winter weather” exists. The coalition believes legislation ought to be written to require that seasonally, November through April, such devices always be in the vehicle or installed on the vehicle, on such mountainous roadways, because severe winter weather driving conditions can develop suddenly and unexpectedly.
Staggered opening hours for ski resorts: Reduces crowding and spreads out traffic. Currently, congestion occurs during both peak morning arrival hours and afternoon departure hours as both resorts are open for approximately the same time. Should Alta open earlier, 8 AM and close at 4 PM and Snowbird open at 9AM and close at 5 PM, crowding and traffic could be spread more effectively. Daylight is nearly 9 1/2 hours in December, and 10 hours or longer in November and the first quarter of the next year; each resort would enjoy daylight for their entire opening period.
Carpooling: Encouraging more people to ride together would reduce the number of vehicles traveling the roadway both in the mornings and afternoons. Carpooling can be incentivized in multiple ways, for example preferential parking spaces reserved for cars with > 2 passengers, lower toll fees, or lower parking fees. This was implemented in Alta before. The resorts can offer a service to connect potential ridesharing occupants, like a ride-share app. Conversely, travel restrictions of single-occupancy vehicles during peak hours could also be employed.
Along SR 210, facilitate new parking spaces for up-canyon UDOT winter snow plows to expedite snow removal. Traffic congestion would be reduced if snow removal is expedited. This can be achieved by parking more snow plows up-canyon along SR 210, rather than bringing them up from the base of the canyon
Implement variable rate tolling: Existing tolling infrastructure can be programmed to read license plates to charge toll for access to the canyon, based on occupancy to reduce access, incentivize carpooling and importantly, incentivize bus ridership. To improve skiing experience and equity, toll rates can vary throughout the day with higher rates during peak congestion periods.
Peak period access priority: Install and use license plate reading equipment to give priority to UTA buses, HOV vans, both public and private carrying >8 people aboard during peak periods in the morning, restricting other vehicles from accessing the canyon for 1-2 hours, exempting emergency vehicles, and residents.
Merge equity: Control the volume of cars leaving Snowbird to reduce the tail light “Red snake”. Currently, cars leaving Alta, face excessive idling time because too many cars exit Snowbird Ski Resort blocking traffic as they merge onto SR 210. The large number of cars from Snowbird come from its four labeled entry/exits, as well as up to 21 “alleys” along the Bypass Road. We propose vehicles leave Snowbird from Exit/Entry 1 or 2, not both, plus exits 3 and 4, during peak afternoon times/days. In addition, we propose only allowing three, rather than 21 alleys to merge from Snowbird from parking areas alongside the Bypass Road, when SR 210 is closed between Snowbird and Alta.
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