Park City councilors express interest in winter public transit to Bonanza Flat

The program aims to reduce congestion on roads and at trailheads. Photo: Utah Open Lands

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City’s ‘Transit to Trails’ program is set to return this summer.

The service, which was piloted last year, provides free transit up to Bonanza Flat from Park City to hikers and bikers.

During a budget discussion with the Trails and Open Space Department, Park City Councilman Jeremy Rubell said he wants to earmark funds so that transit could be provided in the winter for those looking to recreate.

“We paid a ton of money for the land up there,” Rubell said, referencing the city’s $38 million open space purchase in 2017. “People want to use it and there’s a lot of folks who can’t make that walk up the hill in the snow, literally.”

Park City Trails and Open Space Manager Heinrich Deters said winter transit up to Bonanza has been a goal of the department. “From just an access standpoint, it presents challenges,” Deters told the council Thursday. He said by earmarking some funds ($40,000) though, they could look into potential options.

Councilors Tana Toly and Ryan Dickey supported the move, while Max Doilney and Becca Gerber did not.

Gerber said the goal of the city’s purchase years ago was to prevent development, making the recreational uses a bonus. “The one thing that I’ve really learned on council is that you can give people things but you can’t take it away,” Gerber said.

The council will receive their annual trails and open space update at their meeting on June 9. Park City Manager Matt Dias said the council could go deeper on the issue then.

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