The only positive outcome from the many hours spent in the soul-crushing traffic of the Cottonwood canyons is the opportunity provided to devise a better solution.
Having grown up in Utah over the past 30-plus years, I have witnessed canyon traffic get exponentially worse each year and realize that we need to chart a new path forward.
Unfortunately, this problem cannot be solved by simply building more roads and parking infrastructure – one trip in Los Angeles’ infamous rush hour traffic will show why. My proposed plan includes fast/free/frequent canyon bus service, tolls for private vehicles, Uber/Lyft rideshare carpooling and reduced bus travel time.
The backbone of my strategy includes a bold transportation solution: free buses departing every 15 minutes and originating from a future transit hub built on the Wasatch Boulevard gravel pit. Off-hour service could be provided by small vans, while larger buses could accommodate peak travel times. Canyon travelers, especially ski resort employees, will be more inclined to take the bus in the canyons if they know that there will be reliable and frequent service when they need to return.
A toll should be applied to all cars entering Big and Little Cottonwood canyons via a license plate reading system (currently used on the Golden Gate Bridge). Tolling will provide a source of funding to support the free bus system, create a negative incentive for driving and appropriately charge for the negative externality of driving.
Through a collaboration with Uber/Lyft, a new rideshare service (SkiPool) could facilitate carpooling through the existing platforms. This service would offer rides to/from the transit hub for an affordable price. This would reduce parking needs at the base of the canyons, decrease traffic traveling through Cottonwood Heights, shift some capital expenditures to the private sector and provide more local jobs for the gig economy.
A reason many people don’t take the bus is due to the increased travel time compared to driving. To get more people to take the bus, travel time should be significantly reduced. This can be accomplished by creating a separate bus lane to bypass congested traffic at canyon bases and establishing a single stop for each ski resort just off canyon roads. Passengers could offload from the UTA bus and immediately board another ski resort bus/shuttle that would drop riders at the front of the resort. Such a change would increase bus capacity (via minimized route cycle time) and decrease the time disparity compared to cars.
I believe that the most cost-effective solution includes a combination of enhanced bus service and tolling. The plan should not include a gondola/tram, expansive parking lots, tunnels or ski lifts from Park City. The Wasatch Mountains are an incredibly fragile resource that we should protect for future generations. Large intrusive infrastructure such as trams and additional parking lots will scar the landscape and compromise the quiet solitude the canyons.
Dan Barrell, Salt Lake City, is an engaged local resident who loves the Wasatch and seeks to help solve Utah’s problems for the next generation.