Skiers and snowboarders have an ever-present problem come winter in Utah: traffic. Salt Lake City is home to many world-famous ski mountain resorts, including Brighton, Solitude, Snowbird, and Alta. During peak season, locals and visitors alike experience regular traffic delays and frequent car accidents when traveling up and down the old winding access road. Recent Saint Lawrence graduate Bridger Royce, ‘21 recounts his experience dealing with ski resort traffic this past season, “[the traffic] is like a never-ending snake, a travesty,” he said.
Royce’s concerns may soon be assuaged in the coming years. Gondola Works has proposed the construction of an 8-mile-long gondola stretching from the base of Little Cottonwood Canyon to the Snowbird and Alta ski resorts. According to the official website, some major advantages of the gondola would be alleviating traffic on the road and decreasing carbon emissions. Once constructed, the gondola would allow riders to travel up the canyon, above the roadway, and straight to their ski resort of choice.
There has been some resistance to the proposal by local residents. Signs saying “Say NO to the gondola” have been erected at the base of the canyons on house lawns. Some locals have expressed concerns about the 500 to 550 million dollar price tag attached to the project, which will be partially funded by the taxpayers via the Utah Department of Transportation. Others have protested that the development would alter the natural landscape and detract from the scenic beauty of the canyon. Some are also concerned that this project would increase the number of tourists per year, which may hint at longer lines for ski lifts at these already crowded resorts.
However, there are those who also support the gondola project. University of Utah student and avid skier Gabby Fort said, “In my opinion the less cars on the road the better, and if it helps lower emissions too, that’s great” she said. Fort recounts traffic being quite an issue, especially on the weekends. “I can’t tell you the amount of time I have been stuck in traffic on a ski day,” she said. Gondola Works also notes that the alternative plan to alleviate traffic in the canyon (widening the access road and improving the bus system) would be financially comparable in the long run but would still be contributing to the current carbon emissions problem.
The United States has significantly less public transportation infrastructure in comparison with other countries. There is undeniably a car culture in America, and many Americans simply prefer to use their own vehicles. Gondola Works argues that the environmental benefits and convenience of the gondola will be well worth the taxpayer investment. If implemented, visitors to these mountain resorts can avoid the risk of getting caught in traffic, being involved in a car accident, or traveling through avalanche terrain in a personal vehicle. For the many St. Lawrence graduates who are planning to ski bum in the west, major developments could be on the way in Salt Lake City.