How would you solve the traffic problem in Big Cottonwood? – Deseret News

In another effort to improve access to the beloved Big Cottonwood Canyon, the Utah Department of Transportation has launched an environmental study to evaluate tolling and improve bus service to address winter traffic congestion management on State Route 190.

Efforts to address transportation issues stem from SB2, a legislative measure passed in 2023.

SB2 clarifies and directs the agency to use certain funds appropriated by the Legislature to “provide improved bus service, toll collection, transportation hub, and resort bus stops for Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons.”

Potential improvements the transit agency is considering as part of the environmental study include improved bus service in Big Cottonwood: buses leaving from a transit hub near the mouth of the canyon every five to 10 minutes during rush hours, closed bus stops at resorts, a secondary road. improvements to help the bus system, as well as a toll system for the winter season, starting at Entrance 1 in Solitude, with variable prices.

“Big Cottonwood Canyon is the gateway to some of Utah’s best winter activities. We are focusing this study on the improvements outlined in Senate Bill 2 to address the transportation needs of the canyon,” said UDOT Project Manager Devin Weder. “Our goal is to use the money already provided by the Legislature to address traffic issues in the canyon now and in the future.”

As part of the study, the agency will hold two public meetings Nov. 13-14 and a public comment period from Nov. 13 to Dec. 13, to collect information from the community:

• In person: November 13th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Butler Elementary School, 7000 S. 2700 East in Cottonwood Heights. This will be an open day format with information materials and the opportunity to speak with members of the research team.
• Virtual: November 14 from 18:00 to 19:00 on Zoom. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session. Instructions for joining can be found on the project website. The meeting will be recorded and posted on the website.

“The road is already congested during rush hour, and our models show that travel demand is expected to increase by 2050,” Weder said. “These public meetings and comment period are a great opportunity for people visiting the canyon to learn more about what we are proposing as a solution and to share their ideas with us.”

During the public comment period, UDOT requests information regarding the preliminary purpose and need for the project, observations or concerns related to existing traffic conditions, and the community and natural environmental resources to be assessed in the study. The public is encouraged to review project documentation, attend public meetings and post comments when the comment period opens next month.

“We’re really excited that they’re actually exploring what we would call a common sense solution to traffic congestion because it doesn’t seem like it’s been seriously considered,” said Dani Poyrer, director of operations for the Wasatch Backcountry Alliance.

“So we are quite optimistic. The Wasatch Backcountry Alliance is actually participating in the Big Cottonwood Canyon study as a stakeholder. We want to ensure that backcountry employees are represented and that any decisions regarding changes to Big Cottonwood Canyon are made.”