City Council will hear updates on transportation ideas, including gondolas

A group of stakeholders has recommended that Park City explore the possibility of implementing a gondola similar to this one, located in Portland, Oregon. Photo: Portland.gov

Transportation ideas recommended by the committee include an airport shuttle, aerial gondola and potential tunnel system

PARK CITY, Utah — The Park City Council will hear an update on potential transportation solutions during a work session at its meeting on Thursday.

Earlier this year, Mayor Nann Worel put together a stakeholder committee to assess transportation solutions for the Park City area in response to community calls for innovation in Park City’s transportation systems and infrastructure.

The group consists of several Park City residents, representatives from Park City Mountain, Deer Valley Resort, High Valley Transit and the Park City Planning Commission.

According to a Park City Council staff report, the group held individual workshops to discuss eight potential transportation ideas, which were initially selected from a list of 17 topics.

Of those eight, the stakeholders have designated three high priority transportation topics that they recommend that the city continue to explore. These include a high-capacity shuttle from the Salt Lake City International Airport to Park City, an aerial gondola connecting major areas in the city, and the creation of a tunnel system.

Other transportation ideas aren’t so highly recommended by the committee. Although the stakeholders have recommended that the city explore options with regional partners to bring regional rail to the perimeter of Park City at its Aug. 30 meeting, they do not support an internal Park City rail system.

The group cited concerns about the price tag associated with an internal rail system, as well as potential right-of-way impacts, community compatibility and seamless connections.

The stakeholders also discussed a major one-way loop concept at their July 27 meeting. The idea would be to convert Kearns Boulevard, S.R. 224 and Bonanza Drive into a giant one-way traffic loop in order to improve traffic flows in some of the city’s most congested areas.

While the stakeholders noted that the concept could prove to be beneficial during Park City’s peak season, it wasn’t was compelling enough for year-round implementation.

Some stakeholders discussed the possibility of conducting a two-week pilot program to assess the loop’s feasibility, but most committee members were not in support due to the infrastructure adjustments, education and coordination that the pilot program would require.

A final report with the council’s feedback is expected by the end of the year.