If the resorts want it to happen, they'll pay for it. The resorts have already priced out locals, and this is why some people don't want to pay. They left out an important aspect of the people who actually hike, and earn the runs, rather than the tourists, and wealthy who simply pull they're wallet out of the Ferrari in the garage. The locals built this industry for decades, and have been priced out ever since the Olympics in 2002 - make those who benefit from it the most (resorts) pay for it. "THERE'S GREED IN THEM THAR HILLS!"
A perfect example of local government and business jamming a project through despite widespread disapproval from the majority of local residents, tax payers and voters. A waste of money and an environmental eyesore.
Great story, thanks for this. Other news providers have been unabashedly preaching gondola (KSL). What's their idea to relieve traffic at the mouth of LCC once the GIANT gondola parking structure is there? It doesn't take much common sense to see that the structure is going to cause more traffic buildups around the single/double lane roads leading to the canyons and even cause buildup issues for BCC. And why is Udot not even mentioning ideas for BCC? You know, that bigger canyon that actually HAS a traffic problem? Seriously, it's hard coming up with a dumber idea than that LCC gondola. Billion taxpayer dollars to make the canyons more expensive and less accessible. Genius!!!!
This conversation is being had years too late, the gondola decision was made too quickly and rashly. Conversations about transit need to be happening yesterday, not after millions of public funding has been committed.
This is absolutely nuts, an even bigger boondoggle than the inland port nonsense. The people (elected or otherwise) entrusted with our tax monies need to come to their senses and fast.
How much money does the ski tourism industry inject into the Wasatch Front area each year? How many jobs are created and sustained year after year? How much tax revenue does it create? How many local residents see a positive benefit from the exisiting ski industry? How many would benefit from the ski industry expanding? The gondola would have a huge positive impact on the area in many different ways. And yes... it should be free for anyone with a ski season pass or a pre ordered day pass. For others, it should cost the same as bus fare. The idea is not to make money or break even with infrastructure like this. The idea is to bring more tourists to the area while allowing locals better access to their cherished "playground." In addition, it makes the trip of the canyon more accessible and safer for all.
You want to reduce traffic, the gondola needs to be substantially cheaper as it is already a longer trip. This means reducing the fare to below the cost to drive, or increase the cost to drive with parking fees and/or tolls. Alternatively make driving more inconvenient, slower speeds/ having to walk a great deal from parking to the resort, and have the gondola take one right to the lodge/main lift.
I've lived in Little Cottonwood Canyon since 2002. Traffic has been worse (mostly on the elusive powder days) since the inception of the IKON and similar passes. Does UDOT think these skiers will use the Gondola - not likely. It's very difficult to consider the Gondola project a winning solution for so may reasons: economic, limited usability and low expected usage, hassle factor and long ride time, damage to the environment (this is a very narrow canyon in watershed - it would absolutely tear up so much of the delicate environment)...to name a few. Additionally, powder days are getting less and less frequent due to climate change. I just shake my head when I think about how they can justify this proposed project.
On proposals like this, the less sense it makes to do it, the more likely it is to get approved. Projects like this are whats called legacy projects. Someone in government just wants to be able say after he is out of office "look what i did". Just like the passanger rail system that is being proposed between salt lake and boise. Sounds neat but will never pay for itself.
They still need to find a way to get people to ride the busses. Whether its a toll on the road or the resorts start charging for parking. Solitude charges different amount for parking depending on how many people are in the car up to $35 (less for more people). and maybe Snowbird/Alta should start doing the same. There really is no incentive to ride the bus otherwise.
Little cottonwood isn't even that bad to begin with, an expensive gondola is clearly only a boon to the ski resorts. They don't want a real transportation system like a cog railway or extra buses. They want a tourist attraction. A tourist attraction that taxpayers will pay for. No Gondola. Use the money for some actually useful transportation plan, such as The Rio Grande plan.
To everybody re: the Alta pronunciation, chill. There's towns in my state too that barely anybody can pronounce. It happens. Don't let it ruin your day lol
This gondola is not worth the cost., we don't need another tax hog that cant sustain itself. Widen the road and charge a toll, or build a parking lot and charge for bus service and the parking space.
If the resorts want it to happen, they'll pay for it.
The resorts have already priced out locals, and this is why some people don't want to pay. They left out an important aspect of the people who actually hike, and earn the runs, rather than the tourists, and wealthy who simply pull they're wallet out of the Ferrari in the garage.
The locals built this industry for decades, and have been priced out ever since the Olympics in 2002 - make those who benefit from it the most (resorts) pay for it.
"THERE'S GREED IN THEM THAR HILLS!"
A perfect example of local government and business jamming a project through despite widespread disapproval from the majority of local residents, tax payers and voters. A waste of money and an environmental eyesore.
It’s called power, with which comes money. Ever wonder why some people put in that much effort to be “public servant”?😂
If the fees I'm hearing in this report happen, Little Cottonwood will become a no go place for me.
Recreation for the wealthy ellite of society only.
Same!
Great story, thanks for this. Other news providers have been unabashedly preaching gondola (KSL). What's their idea to relieve traffic at the mouth of LCC once the GIANT gondola parking structure is there? It doesn't take much common sense to see that the structure is going to cause more traffic buildups around the single/double lane roads leading to the canyons and even cause buildup issues for BCC.
And why is Udot not even mentioning ideas for BCC? You know, that bigger canyon that actually HAS a traffic problem? Seriously, it's hard coming up with a dumber idea than that LCC gondola. Billion taxpayer dollars to make the canyons more expensive and less accessible. Genius!!!!
Bureaucratic logic....
Those skiers are not the demographic. They're backcountry skiers. Not resort skiers.
Not one of the Utah natives want to pay for a gondola to be built so the ski resorts can raise their prices, not one.
If the cost of reaching the resorts increases, then the resorts will need to lower their prices to maintain demand, not raise them.
This conversation is being had years too late, the gondola decision was made too quickly and rashly. Conversations about transit need to be happening yesterday, not after millions of public funding has been committed.
If the gondola costs more than a couple of dollars to ride, nobody will use it.
If they paid people to ride it nobody will use it 😂
I hope it fails and they loose billions!
This is absolutely nuts, an even bigger boondoggle than the inland port nonsense. The people (elected or otherwise) entrusted with our tax monies need to come to their senses and fast.
Taxpayers gonna foot most of the bill, then they are going to tax you more when you want to use it! This is called extortion!
As a citizen of Utah I’m NOT subsidizing out of state skiers vacation by paying taxes to operate a gondola I will never use.
How many taxpayers have to subsidize this that they themselves can't afford to urilize??
How much money does the ski tourism industry inject into the Wasatch Front area each year? How many jobs are created and sustained year after year? How much tax revenue does it create? How many local residents see a positive benefit from the exisiting ski industry? How many would benefit from the ski industry expanding? The gondola would have a huge positive impact on the area in many different ways. And yes... it should be free for anyone with a ski season pass or a pre ordered day pass. For others, it should cost the same as bus fare. The idea is not to make money or break even with infrastructure like this. The idea is to bring more tourists to the area while allowing locals better access to their cherished "playground." In addition, it makes the trip of the canyon more accessible and safer for all.
how about running more ski busses instead ? one person per car is what’s ruining the canyons along with the ikon pass .
Instead uta decided to run LESS busses and cut out bus stops.
I can't trust this reporter because he pronounces Alta as "Ahl-ta".
You want to reduce traffic, the gondola needs to be substantially cheaper as it is already a longer trip. This means reducing the fare to below the cost to drive, or increase the cost to drive with parking fees and/or tolls. Alternatively make driving more inconvenient, slower speeds/ having to walk a great deal from parking to the resort, and have the gondola take one right to the lodge/main lift.
I've lived in Little Cottonwood Canyon since 2002. Traffic has been worse (mostly on the elusive powder days) since the inception of the IKON and similar passes. Does UDOT think these skiers will use the Gondola - not likely. It's very difficult to consider the Gondola project a winning solution for so may reasons: economic, limited usability and low expected usage, hassle factor and long ride time, damage to the environment (this is a very narrow canyon in watershed - it would absolutely tear up so much of the delicate environment)...to name a few. Additionally, powder days are getting less and less frequent due to climate change. I just shake my head when I think about how they can justify this proposed project.
On proposals like this, the less sense it makes to do it, the more likely it is to get approved. Projects like this are whats called legacy projects. Someone in government just wants to be able say after he is out of office "look what i did". Just like the passanger rail system that is being proposed between salt lake and boise. Sounds neat but will never pay for itself.
Gondolas in telluride are free and more picturesque
We need one to encircle downtown SLC. It can circle around the LSD Temple and ice cream shops.
How about no
Utah = corona Mormon granola rides😷😷😷
Nate… Al-tuh not All-tuh
We are not a snobby Colorado resort state! Keep the gondola out!!!
100-200 to ride? More than hiring a helicopter to take you.
just have a dedicated bus lane, there’s no need for an expensive project like this
Busses tend not to do well when there's an avalanche over the road.
Charge everyone twenty dollars for day use just like the state parks.
I don't want my taxes going up like they have for a fail billion dollar prison.
What a obviously bad idea this is economically. It would have to be faster, cheaper and more convenient than driving. File that in the dumpster.
Busses, lots of clean busses. The roads already there.
They still need to find a way to get people to ride the busses. Whether its a toll on the road or the resorts start charging for parking. Solitude charges different amount for parking depending on how many people are in the car up to $35 (less for more people). and maybe Snowbird/Alta should start doing the same. There really is no incentive to ride the bus otherwise.
Keep vail like resorts out of Utah! Move to park city or out of our state if you want a vail like feel....
Little cottonwood isn't even that bad to begin with, an expensive gondola is clearly only a boon to the ski resorts. They don't want a real transportation system like a cog railway or extra buses. They want a tourist attraction. A tourist attraction that taxpayers will pay for. No Gondola. Use the money for some actually useful transportation plan, such as The Rio Grande plan.
To everybody re: the Alta pronunciation, chill. There's towns in my state too that barely anybody can pronounce. It happens. Don't let it ruin your day lol
We're making people faster than we're making mountains. Welcome to the future.
waste of money republicans
Oh but paying for illigal immigrants and bullet trains that go to nowhere isn't?
Democrats...
To a few of them it lines their pockets quite nicely.
Waste of money Utahns. Not just Republicans nor Democrats
Snowbird/Alta and a handful of very rich land owners will benefit. Don't worry though, it will trickle down to the rest of us!!
Disgusting we peasants must subsided billionaires who are too elite to ride a bus
Just watch. Like the sinki
ng prison when the "talk" begins, the bill arrives
This gondola is not worth the cost., we don't need another tax hog that cant sustain itself. Widen the road and charge a toll, or build a parking lot and charge for bus service and the parking space.
I will ride the gondola! Right after I hit the lottery for ten million bucks...
Use buses
Haa
Announcer should learn how to pronounce “Alta”. It’s pronounced as in “altitude”. Not all-ta.
Greed! One of the Seven Deadly Sins.