Roadway Solutions

There are sustainable and affordable improvements for SR 210 including both the 2.7 mile stretch of SR 210 Wasatch Blvd through Cottonwood Heights as well as the 8 miles of SR 210 within Little Cottonwood Canyon. All three of UDOT’s preferences are major build outs that are extreme and unnecessary. They line the pockets of a few at the expense of the public’s love of pastoral foothills and pristine canyon.

Below are my suggestions for improvement without major asphalting or building expansion or new parking garages.

UDOT's preferred "Gondola with La Caille parking garage" AND "Enhanced Busing with PPSL (Peak Period Shoulder Lanes)"

A pause in the LCC EIS process is necessary in order to phase in solution(s) that meet and exceed UDOT's stated purpose and need of reducing vehicular traffic within Little Cottonwood Canyon (LCC) by 30% by 2050

The key to successfully overcoming Level of Service E and F on SR 210 is a PHASED approach.

Phasing in one or more of the following between 2022 through 2027 will remove more than 30% of the vehicles on SR 210 during UDOT's identified peak winter periods. This exceeds UDOT"s stated goal of reducing vehicular traffic within Little Cottonwood Canyon (LCC) by 30% by 2050.

UDOT's review, prioritization and systematic adoption of the following remedies would create the least negative impact on the well-being of local residents, visiting canyon recreationalists, local businesses, wild creatures and the entire natural infrastructure, and is the most cost-effective use of tax-payer dollars:

1. Restriction of Single occupancy private vehicles 8-10am & 2-4pm on peak period days.  Except for certain local residents of the canyon and other emergency personnel, single-occupancy vehicles are restricted from entering LCC during the 2-hour peak period and powder mornings. Single occupancy vehicles represent over 30% of the vehicles on any given winter morning. Out of 365 calendar days each year, the peak period and powder mornings represent only 8% of the year. This is manageable.

2. Smart Phone App. Immediate development and adoption of a new public/private (UTA, UDOT, USFS, private shuttle companies, UBER, LYFT, Snowbird, Solitude, Brighton, Alta) smart phone app that communicates in real time pertinent condition of roads, transit, parking, AND location of Slug Lanes, SLCO "Car Pool & Transit" lots (aka "Park & Rides"), resort and trail-head lot availability, etc. Likewise, any restrictions currently or within upcoming 24 hour period would be highlighted. 

3. Addition of Slug Lanes to 9400 S. Highland and 6200 S. parking lots and any new lots as they are phased in. Slug lanes connect single occupancy motorists to facilitate car-pooling. (See example: http://www.slug-lines.com/slugging/about_slugging.asp)

4. Rename Park and Ride lots to "Car Pool & Transit" lots. 

5. Add "Car Pool & Transit" locations within underutilized existing parking areas within strip malls within Draper, Sandy, Cottonwood Heights, Murray, Midvale, Holladay and Millcreek. This enables canyon users to leave their vehicles closer to where they embark, lowering overall VMT (vehicle miles travelled).

6. Improve UTA bus service. Operate UTA buses at higher frequency, direct service from more numerous locations to each of the four ski resorts in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. 

7. New UTA public facility at Snowbird, Alta, Solitude and Brighton. Structures would provide warmth, inexpensive/season-long lockers, tables, restrooms where individuals and families can eat their sack lunches, etc. instead of everyone using their private vehicle for such things.

8. Build tire check stations at mouth of BCC and LCC AND improve local decal program.

9. Ski resorts impose parking fees that incentivize car-pooling and transit use.

10. Ski resorts can communicate with and incentivize out-of-state lodging guests to utilize shuttles from the airport, and offer shuttles to Wasatch Front and Back ski locations so that out -of-state canyon users bring fewer ill-equipped rental vehicles into the canyons.

Wasatch Blvd Expansion

After careful consideration for all stakeholders who access Little Cottonwood Canyon, anticipating the growth of the Salt Lake Valley population, and north/south commuters from Sandy and Draper, the SR 210 Wasatch Blvd 2.7 stretch from the High-T (La Caille) intersection to Ft. Union Blvd (mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon) needs to serve all users.

It needs better egress/ingress for the eleven intersecting streets.

It needs slower speeds so that motorists, cyclists and pedestrians can have a better chance of coming through collisions alive. Safety!

We need to improve our air quality by lowering Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT).

Residential areas can be protected from the urban sprawl and blight that will come from adding asphalt and lanes which encourage higher speeds by UTA starting a enhanced non-stop bus line on existing north/south arterials of Highland Drive, and possibly 1300 East going forward. This north/south express service will lessen rush hour congestion for workers, patients, student and cultural venue visitors going to U of U/Research Park area as well as to eastern downtown SLC. (See diagram)

A phased in approach is called for.

 Instead of UDOT and the Wasatch Front Regional Council’s (WFRC) current 2050 RTP (See 2050 RTP Appendix L:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fGDtnPDLEO8CT-FU_XFfKPk1RadUVOeL/view) plans to keep adding more lanes to 1300 East and to Highland Drive and the build-out of Wasatch Blvd, the immediate phasing in of viable transit that collects southeast SL Valley commuters at strategic locations and whisks them, non-stop northbound to destinations such as the East Bench Cultural District and eastern SLC. Destination options need to be modeled but will likely include a central downtown SLC terminus and the existing U of U/Research Park Shutlle Stop.

Private vehicle commuters MUST experience LOS of E and F on these north/south arteries in order for Utahns to shift from their single-occupancy driving habit to incorporating transit into their mobility.

To build out Wasatch Blvd for projected 2050 traffic needs in the future, induces higher VMT and disincentives transportation alternatives.

Covid matters
UDOT is using 2018 models which projected a heightening Draper population and insists Wasatch Blvd must have more vehicular lanes. UTA's past "express service" for north/south commuters stopped along the way and did not prioritize movement of bus. Ridership was/is poor. 

A year of Covid 19 has brought more home-officing and reduced Wasatch Blvd commuter traffic. BRT or EPB (Express Priority Bus) strategy could be phased in starting immediately. For example, Highland Drive could be phased in sooner and 1300 East later if necessary. 

SOLUTION: East Draper, Sandy, Granite and south Cottonwood Hts commuters could collect at 9400 South Highland Drive terminus (on north edge of Dimple Dell) and be whisked by non-carbon emitting BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) or Express Bus north along Highland Drive to I-215 to Foothill Drive and on to Research Park, U of U and west downtown SLC stops -- all on perimeter of existing roadways. This would preclude the need for new roads or a bridge or road through Dimple Dell Park, which is heavily opposed. See https://www.facebook.com/dimpledellpreservation/ 

Additionally or alternatively could be BRT or Express Bus on 1300 East with a 12300 South terminus.

This idea:

·      Saves money because it puts BRT or EPB on existing arterials with less new infrastructure required 

·      No (few) right of way challenges

·      Flexibility of fleets, drivers, routes

·      Does not blight residential neighborhoods