There’s no doubt that traffic has increased in Little Cottonwood Canyon. So, who is largely responsible for this? The ski resorts of Alta and Snowbird, that’s who. The resorts, over the years, have increased their carrying capacity by installing more (and increased capacity) lifts for their purpose of increasing their profits.
As a solution to this increased traffic problem, they are supporting the construction of a gondola to ferry skiers to their resorts. In a sense, a “private, privileged” way to access their holdings.
The gondola as proposed would have only two stops: Alta and Snowbird. This private system would ignore all the other visitors to the canyon such as cross country skiers, hikers and others who may wish to stop and use the many other access points to the canyon’s recreational opportunities and would shunt them to the side as inconsequential.
Snowbird has evidently decided that this is enough of a done deal that it has purchased land at the mouth of the canyon for the construction of the gondola’s base station. Additionally, Snowbird has contracted with “Gondola Works” to spread the propaganda that a gondola is the only “good” solution to the problem that they themselves have helped to create.
Gondola Works’ ads denigrate solutions that include buses as inferior, overcrowded options. Make no mistake, it is the ski resorts who stand to profit from a gondola solution. There is nothing wrong with them benefiting financially from a successful business. But it is wrong for them to expect the tax paying public to pick up the tab for their private transportation boondoggle. UDOT is fielding responses on this issue for the final EIS until Oct. 17. Please go to www.littlecottonwoodeis.udot.utah.gov to give your opinion.
Wayne Belka, Midvale
