Groups voice opposition to UDOT’s plans for Little Cottonwood gondola
Aug 31, 2022, 12:57 PM | Updated: 1:39 pm
SANDY, Utah — Groups and communities surrounding Little Cottonwood Canyon are voicing their disappointment after the Utah Department of Transportation chose to move forward with plans for a gondola to alleviate the canyon’s congestion.
They argue that there are several viable options on the table that makes more sense.
“Response to UDOT’s decision… disappointed, massively disappointed, but not surprised,” said Brad T. Rutledge with the Wasatch Backcountry Alliance. “They’ve been faced with a really difficult challenge and there are a lot of influential people and entities at play that have been promoting the gondola.”
UDOT chooses gondola to address Little Cottonwood Canyon congestion
Not only are they against the gondola, but also widening the road. Under the final environmental impact study released Wednesday, UDOT plans to increase bus service while the gondola is under construction, but there are no plans to widen state Route 210 through the canyon.
They are more interested in solutions that are less harmful to our environment and less expensive.
Rutledge said there’s been one bright spot in all of this.
All the debate has forced people who live near the canyon to seriously consider what they can do now to alleviate traffic — things like carpooling and driving less. He said it’s really about changing habits, and people who don’t use the canyon have a stake in this as well and need to step up before the government makes an official decision.
