SR 210: Improvements yes. Expansion & build out no.
UDOT announced their “Final LCC EIS” (Little Cottonwood Canyon Environmental Impact Statement) on August 31. They identified “Gondola B with phasing” to achieve their stated goal of reducing traffic on SR 210 from Ft. Union Blvd to town of Alta by 35%.
This turns out to be a package of $550M (a pre-Covid estimate) that includes the building of 22 massive towers from a gondola base/parking garage on the east side of La Caille up to Alta. The "phasing" consists of tolling, snow sheds and enhanced bussing & transit facilities that would only start to be phased in IF, big IF, the Legislature, U.S. Department of Transportation and/or private sector approves funding for the whole package.
So, this means, we do not get tolling, snow sheds, improved bus & transit facilities to relieve 12-24 days of congestion UNLESS UDOT is given the nod to be designing and building the gondola at the same time. (See UDOT’s “Final EIS” Appendix 21, page 5 at https://littlecottonwoodeis.udot.utah.gov)
Importantly, the gondola parking garage (now expanded from 1500 to 2500 parking stalls) will induce traffic onto State Routes 190, 209 and 210 (from I-215 south to the gondola base) affecting neighborhoods of Cottonwood Hts, Sandy and Granite. The expensive UDOT plan does nothing to improve traffic and air quality for Salt Lake Valley residents.
“Following a 45-day comment period (ending October 17th) for the Final EIS, UDOT will formally select an alternative for (approval and) implementation in a separate Record of Decision (ROD) this winter.” - UDOT, August 30, 2022.
Remember: The EIS is an environmental screening process but does not convey approval or funding.
Read EIS in full: https://littlecottonwoodeis.udot.utah.gov
There are many good, practical, effectual and inexpensive (when compared to $550,000,000) remedies to reach UDOT's goal of "reducing traffic on SR 210 from Ft. Union Blvd to town of Alta". UDOT's preference for a gondola package is NOT one of them.
With all of the pressing mobility needs in SLCO, to spend 100,000,000 tax payer dollars per mile within Little Cottonwood Canyon to offer a small elite population the option to ride a gondola and deliver customers to two ski corporations is fiscally irresponsible.
As an elected representative, I favor having city, county and state representatives along with UDOT, UTA and WFRC (Wasatch Front Regional Council) work together to identify currently unused portions of existing strip mall parking lots that dot SL Valley to be repurposed into small and numerous "Transit/Car Pool Lots". These lots can be utilized during peak periods year round for moving canyon recreationalists to trail heads and ski resorts, preferably with a fleet mix of buses to ski resorts and vans to trailheads. This is "scalable and flexible" and allows people to leave their vehicles closer to where they live.
Reducing asphalt footprints (repurposing unused, existing ones) is necessary in a time of aridification that includes water shortages and higher temperature concerns. This and strategies for reducing volume of vehicles on our roads, reducing vehicular violence, and improving air quality should be a stated Transportation Goal for our cities, county and state.
In my opinion, we would fare better if Legislators would be more concerned about public health and safety for existing residents rather than beat the drum and budget to subsidize corporations and advertise to attract tourists.
Protecting an unfettered yet sustainable Utah life-style that includes access to amazing natural resources creates a high quality of life. This can attract high-end corporations to locate here, be inclusive for visitors and, at the same time, keep all of us safe and healthy.
-Ellen Birrell/Cottonwood Heights Councilwoman District 4, September 15, 2022