Whereas there are quite a few elected officers against a possible gondola by Little Cottonwood Canyon, the concept of a large system of overhead vehicles has no less than one proponent in elected workplace: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.
Throughout his month-to-month information convention Thursday, Cox mentioned he helps the concept of a gondola within the canyon, including that the state must spend a big sum of money to handle transportation within the canyon regardless of the answer. The most recent estimate from the Utah Division of Transportation says constructing a gondola would value round $500 million.
“I’m on document a very long time in the past saying that I feel the gondola is a good suggestion,” Cox mentioned.
The governor advised the Deseret Information in January 2021 that he was “leaning” towards the gondola proposal, although that was earlier than UDOT’s August suggestion for the gondola. Final January, UDOT listed the gondola, a cog railway and increasing the roadway for bus-dedicated lanes as choices for the canyon.
Cox added Thursday that he additionally supported UDOT’s transfer to implement expanded bus companies to the canyon as a short-term resolution. He added that UDOT’s plan would enable the Legislature to see what’s and what isn’t working, as lawmakers will in the end make the decision on whether or not or to not fund the venture.
Final month, each the Salt Lake Metropolis and Salt Lake County councils handed resolutions condemning the plan. County Mayor Jenny Wilson referred to as on members of the general public to oppose the gondola after UDOT made its August suggestion.
Largely those that have publicly supported the gondola have been the ski resorts within the canyon. Snowbird, a vocal proponent of the gondola, began an advocacy group — referred to as Gondola Works — to push for its building. In Sept. 2021, Snowbird additionally quietly purchased two plots of land the place the proposed gondola base station can be constructed.
UDOT has but to finalize its gondola suggestion. On Monday, the chance for the general public to share feedback with the division expired. UDOT is about to finalize its resolution someday this winter.