BY EMMA CARVER
EDITOR OF THE EDITORIALS PAGE
EDITOR OF THE EDITORIALS PAGE
Above is the map of where the gondola would be placed in Little Cottonwood.
Utah is famous for its skiing. Utah license plates everywhere say, ¨Greatest Snow on Earth.¨ and people from all around this amazing earth come to ski authentic Utah snow. As all the skiers and snowboarders already know, on an epic power day the canyons are a nightmare to try and get up, no matter how early you wake up or how many alternate routes you try. Cars are backed up for miles and miles and the lines for buses are long enough to drive any sane person mad. While both canyons are always congested on a good powder day, little cottonwood canyon especially becomes congested with LA style traffic. The Utah Department of Transportation realized this problem in little cottonwood and developed three solutions; widening the roads, increasing the amount of buses in circulation, or creating a massive gondola that spans the whole canyon.
According to UDOT (Utah Department of Transportation), widening the roads came out to be the most expensive option at about $470 million dollars, while the gondola is next at $393 million dollars, and lastly, increasing the bus circulation at about $283 million, though it would be the most expensive if upkeep and gas was taken into account. Comparatively, the gondola would be the cheapest but also the largest downer on the views and the longest ride to the top, at just more than an hour. The widening of the roads would be the most expensive but would be the fastest at only about forty minutes. Lastly, the more buses in circulation would be the middleman cost wise, with gas coming into play, but would alter the environment the least amount and would be the most flexible during the off season.
Ultimately, one has to compare what is valued more; cost, environment, or time efficiency. Cost and environment are the main components, as the time between each option are similar. Putting more buses in circulation seems to be the best option because of its flexibility and minor impact on the canyon. No matter what the public decides is best, the UDOT is coming out with an official statement of what to do in the canyon in the spring of 2021.
According to UDOT (Utah Department of Transportation), widening the roads came out to be the most expensive option at about $470 million dollars, while the gondola is next at $393 million dollars, and lastly, increasing the bus circulation at about $283 million, though it would be the most expensive if upkeep and gas was taken into account. Comparatively, the gondola would be the cheapest but also the largest downer on the views and the longest ride to the top, at just more than an hour. The widening of the roads would be the most expensive but would be the fastest at only about forty minutes. Lastly, the more buses in circulation would be the middleman cost wise, with gas coming into play, but would alter the environment the least amount and would be the most flexible during the off season.
Ultimately, one has to compare what is valued more; cost, environment, or time efficiency. Cost and environment are the main components, as the time between each option are similar. Putting more buses in circulation seems to be the best option because of its flexibility and minor impact on the canyon. No matter what the public decides is best, the UDOT is coming out with an official statement of what to do in the canyon in the spring of 2021.
Sources:
https://www.kuer.org/business-economy/2020-09-18/getting-up-the-mountain-stakeholders-divided-over-transportation-plans-for-little-cottonwood-canyon
https://www.kuer.org/transportation/2020-07-07/little-cottonwood-canyon-traffic-plan-public-comment-period-closes-this-week
https://liftblog.com/2020/06/09/can-a-gondola-solve-little-cottonwood-canyons-woes/
https://www.kuer.org/business-economy/2020-09-18/getting-up-the-mountain-stakeholders-divided-over-transportation-plans-for-little-cottonwood-canyon
https://www.kuer.org/transportation/2020-07-07/little-cottonwood-canyon-traffic-plan-public-comment-period-closes-this-week
https://liftblog.com/2020/06/09/can-a-gondola-solve-little-cottonwood-canyons-woes/
