May 25th, 2023 WASATCH FRONT REGIONAL COUNCIL MEETING & UDOT'S LCC GONDOLA PROPOSAL IN LONG TERM PLANNING

The Wasatch Front Regional Council has posted the agenda for their May 25th, 2023 meeting which the public is welcome to attend at 41 N Rio Grande Street, Salt Lake City from 2-4PM.

The WFRC prepared a FAQ sheet that provides information on the relationship between the Regional Transportation Plan and the Little Cottonwood Canyon Environmental Impact Statement.

The WFRC staff, the RGC Technical Advisory Committees, and the RGC, recommend that the Wasatch Front Regional Council make a motion adopting the 2023-2050 Regional Transportation Plan and Air Quality Memorandum #41. The RGC recommends including a statement of intent to accompany the motion with regard to the Little Cottonwood Canyon Environmental Impact Statement, that ‘WFRC supports prioritizing of phase 1 and 2 and implementation and evaluation of phase 1 and 2 before advancing to phase 3.’

What does the draft 2023-2050 RTP show for Little Cottonwood Canyon (LCC)? All the transportation-related elements from UDOT’s final EIS are reflected in the draft RTP, including: ● Phase 1 (2023-2032): enhanced bus service, tolling/congestion-based pricing, roadway improvements, and a mobility hub ● Phase 2 (2033-2042): avalanche snow sheds and trailhead improvements ● Phase 3 (2043-2050): gondola and base station parking If the EIS for Little Cottonwood Canyon changes, the RTP will also be changed.

The SLCA continues to request that the Council remove the gondola proposal from the RTP entirely. Better definition of the evaluation criteria and timeline for Phase 1 and Phase 2 that would or would not advance to Phase 3 (UDOT’s gondola proposal) is also needed from the Council.

Traffic mitigation strategies such as regional electric buses, micro transit shuttle services, transit hubs, enforcing traction law, car pooling, reservation systems, and tolling that also address the needs of dispersed recreation are solutions that do not require permanent natural landscape changes. We applaud the Council for supporting these efforts.

The Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) is an Association of Governments (AOG) organized under the Interlocal Cooperation Act of Utah State Law to discuss and study community challenges of mutual interest and concern. It also serves as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Salt Lake City-West Valley City and Ogden-Layton Urbanized Areas.

The mission of WFRC is to build consensus and enhance quality of life by developing and implementing visions and plans for a well-functioning multi-modal transportation system, livable communities, a strong economy, and a healthy environment. To accomplish this mission, WFRC serves as a convener to facilitate collaboration with communities and partners, technical expert to provide trusted subject-matter, planner to proactively plan for the future of our region, and implementer to put visions and plans into action.