New Buses or LCC Gondola: UDOT Explores Proposals for Wasatch Traffic

As traffic increases in Utah's Little Cottonwood Canyon, the Utah Department of Transportation is exploring solutions to mitigate the problem. Gondola Works photo.

Anyone who’s been caught in Little Cottonwood Canyon’s dreaded red snake knows that the congestion heading to the mountains is getting absurd. The Utah Department of Transportation is currently toying with two proposals to address the problem. One would be an expanded bus service with expansions made to the road up the canyon. The other is a gondola that would whisk skiers and snowboarders directly from the entrance of LCC to Snowbird and Alta.

Recently, the advocacy group Gondola Works released a short informational video explaining the gist of the Gondola idea. Essentially, the La Caille restaurant at the base of the canyon would double as a gondola station taking skiers and snowboarders to Snowbird and Alta by means of an extensive gondola system. The ride would span 31 minutes to reach Snowbird, and 37 minutes to get to Alta, however, this estimated time does not account for parking and loading. Each car is built with WiFi and heated seats and can accommodate 32 riders. In total, the parking structure at the base station would be able to hold 1800 cars.

The idea, however, is controversial and is drawing concerns about the environmental impacts to the canyon. Local ski mountaineer Caroline Gleich was originally in favor of an enhanced bus service that required no changes to the pre-existing road in the canyon. That option, however, is no longer being considered since UDOT is favoring a bus system with a dedicated travel lane up the highway, therefore, requiring additional expansion of the road. Last July she wrote in  an Instagram post. “I do not support the gondola option because it only serves those who are visiting the resorts. It will not stop at other trailheads and provides no benefit to dispersed users. It is also a gateway to more development in Little Cottonwood Canyon.” Carl Fisher, the executive director of the local non-profit Save Our Canyons, also echoed Gleich's concerns, arguing that the gondola would only add to the crowds in the area and further impact the local watershed.

Alternatively, the other idea—the enhanced bussing program—would be faster than the Gondola idea. The bus ride alone is estimated to be about 24 minutes from the proposed Wasatch Boulevard transportation hub to Alta. Parking, loading, and driving would take roughly 37 minutes in total to get up the canyon, however, this doesn’t account for winter delays. This proposal also calls for widening the entire road in the canyon, so that the buses would have their own dedicated lanes. When not in use by buses, these lanes would also double as bike lanes, providing a safer route up the canyon for cyclists. UDOT is also considering adding a toll on private vehicles heading into the canyon to further incentivize whatever alternative transportation option goes into effect. 

Despite the pros and cons of both options, it is undeniable that something has to be done. UDOT expects that the travel time will likely double in the canyon by 2050 due to the growing population in the region. If you want to share your thoughts about the two proposals,  UDOT is holding a 45-day public comment period to weigh comments and concerns. They’re also hosting two public hearings in July, with public commenting closing on August 9th. UDOT plans to make a final decision by this winter. 

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