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Ski Utah: Help us preserve Little Cottonwood Canyon

Now is the time to preserve Little Cottonwood Canyon for future generations. Two final options for transportation changes are being considered by the Utah Department of Transportation - an expanded bus system and a gondola.
 
Join Ski Utah in encouraging UDOT to reduce our reliance on vehicles by voicing your support for the gondola option. Not only will it avoid more paving, emissions and drastic permanent changes in the canyon required by the expanded bus proposal, but the gondola will provide a more reliable long-term solution. The public comment period closes on September 3.

Curious about what the proposed Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola would look like? The video below will provide an overview of what a high-tech, zero-emission, high-capacity gondola system would be like.

WHY IS SKI UTAH IN SUPPORT OF THE GONDOLA?
  •  CARBON NEUTRAL: The 3S gondola system is carbon neutral. And would eliminate thousands of tons of carbon emissions a year in the canyon through reduced vehicle travel.
  • NO CHANGES TO WIDTH OF ROADWAY: Under the gondola proposal, no road widening in the canyon would be needed. Under the expanded bus service proposal, S.R. 210 would be widened to 4 lanes (2 lanes in each direction) from the mouth of the canyon to the Alta Bypass Road.
  • LAND CONSERVATION: Snowbird has committed to putting the approximately 1,100 acres originally earmarked for the Mountain Accord land exchange in a permanent land conservation easement. This includes most of Mt. Superior.
  • IN CASE OF EMERGENCY: The gondola provides an additional and safe escape route in the event of road closures due to avalanches.
  • EFFECTIVENESS DURING STORMS/ROAD CLOSURES: The Doppelmayr 3S system gondola is designed to run in 60 mph sustained winds and 80-90 mph gusts. With the exception of periods of active avalanche control, the gondola can run in nearly every weather condition. The enhanced bus service would not operate during road closures, avalanche control and would be slowed due to snowy or icy conditions.
  • WHO PAYS FOR IT?  
    • As a UDOT project, a gondola would be a state capital project just like other transportation or road projects. A gondola’s operation and maintenance would be paid by users.
    • The Gondola offers several revenue streams to support its long-term operation, instead of relying on taxpayer dollars alone. This could include public-private partnerships for things like capital investment, day-to-day management, etc.
Alta and Snowbird have offered to pay for all employees and passholders rider fees, as they currently do with bus riders.




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