What’s Up With The Gondola
What’s up with the gondola
If you’re a Salt Lake local or just visiting, you’ve likely heard about the controversy surrounding “the gondola” in Little Cottonwood Canyon. But what is this project all about, and why is it sparking such heated debate? In this article, we’ll sift through the many voices and rumors surrounding the proposed gondola, offering a balanced look at both sides of the discussion and providing the most up-to-date information on what it could mean for Utah’s canyons.
S.R. 210, also known as Little Cottonwood Canyon Road, has a prominent history of long driving times, difficult—and sometimes dangerous—driving conditions, and frequent accidents during the winter months. To address these issues, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) published its final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS included 5 options on how to improve the issues:
- Enhancing buses without widening the streets
- Enhancing buses in addition to widening the street to add bus lanes
- Gondola option A would start at LCC Park-and-Ride
- Gondola option B that would begin at La Caille
- A cog rail that would begin at La Caille
After publishing this, they allowed a 45-day public review and comment period. During this period UDOT received numerous comments suggesting they start with increased parking, enhanced bus services, and tolling before proceeding with the gondola construction. UDOT responded to these suggestions by proposing a three-phase implementation plan for Gondola Option B in its Record of Decision (ROD):
- Phase 1 – Estimated for implementation in the fall of 2025, this phase includes improving and increasing bus service (without widening the canyon road), constructing a mobility hub, adding ski resort bus stops, tolling the road (estimated at $25-$30), and restricting upper canyon parking.
- Phase 2 – Implementation will depend on funding. This phase would involve constructing snow sheds, widening Wasatch Boulevard, and improving trailhead facilities.
- Phase 3 – Also, funding-dependent, this final phase would introduce the gondola system, including station parking and access road construction, and would mark the end of bus services.
THE PUBLIC’s RESPONSE
Public opposition was strong, and a few months after the final EIS release, a group called Save Our Canyons filed a lawsuit against UDOT on December 11, 2023. A link to the lawsuit is provided below, but in summary, The Citizens’ Committee to Save Our Canyons, a non-profit organization, has filed this lawsuit against UDOT and the United States Forest Service (USFS) in the United States District Court for the District of Utah. The lawsuit challenges UDOT’s decision to authorize the construction and operation of a gondola in Little Cottonwood Canyon, known as Gondola Alternative B or the La Caille gondola, as outlined in UDOT’s June 2023 Record of Decision (ROD).
The complaint alleges that UDOT’s decision violates the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) due to a flawed and arbitrary process. The plaintiffs argue that UDOT failed to consider a reasonable range of alternatives, inconsistently applied screening criteria, and did not adequately assess the cumulative impacts on congestion, recreation, and wilderness areas. The lawsuit also claims that the USFS failed to preserve the wilderness characteristics of the Twin Peaks and Lone Peak Wilderness Areas, violating both the Wilderness Act and the APA.
The plaintiffs seek a court declaration that UDOT and the USFS violated federal laws, an order to set aside the ROD and FEIS, and an injunction to halt further actions on the project until compliance with federal law is achieved. They also request litigation costs and any other appropriate relief.
HOW MUCH?
The Gondola B Alternative has a capital cost of $550 million, covering tolling infrastructure, transit parking, snow sheds, trailhead parking, and Wasatch Boulevard widening. Winter operations will cost $4 million annually, with an additional $3 million for summer service. Despite having the third-highest initial cost, it offers the lowest 30-year life cycle cost.
BUT WHO’S GONNA PAY FOR ALL THAT?
As a UDOT project, the gondola would be a state capital project like other transportation or road initiatives. Gondola operation and maintenance would be funded by users. The gondola offers several revenue streams to support long-term operations, potentially including public-private partnerships for capital investment and day-to-day management. Ski resorts have offered to cover ride fees for all employees and pass holders, as they currently do with bus riders. In contrast, UTA’s bus operating costs are subsidized 85% by all Utah taxpayers through the 1% sales tax collected and distributed to UTA by the state. This is how bus system operation and maintenance in Little Cottonwood Canyon would be funded if the gondola project were halted.
Below are links to sources for this article. Please feel free to explore these resources and form your own opinions.
Petitions
- Petition against the gondola: Say No to the Little Cottonwood Canyon Gondola
Links
Contributor: Evan Battermann
FOR THE EDITORS!
Links if the in text ones don’t work:
Save Our Canyons lawsuit : chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://saveourcanyons.org/images/pdfs-doc/court_stamped_SOC.pdf
UDOT’s Record of Decision : https://littlecottonwoodeis.udot.utah.gov/record-of-decision/
Timeline of UDOT’s Gondola Proposal : https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/9/7/23339264/utah-gondola-timeline-little-cottonwood-canyon-udot-snowbird-alta-ski/
UDOT Identifies Gondola B as the Preferred Alternative :
https://udot.utah.gov/connect/2022/08/31/udot-identifies-gondola-b-as-the-preferred-alternative-in-little-cottonwood-canyon/
GondolaWorks Project Page :
https://gondolaworks.com/
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