Park City to review aerial transit feasibility to ease Main Street traffic, connect resort

Photo: Inhabit Park City.

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City officials will take another look at aerial transit this week, as the City Council reviews a feasibility study exploring gondola connections between Main Street and Deer Valley’s future Snow Park area.

During their June 26 meeting, council members are scheduled to hear a preliminary report and hold a one-hour discussion on the possibility of an aerial transit system. The presentation evaluates six potential terminal sites and two mode options — a traditional gondola and a 3S tri-cable system, which offers greater stability and capacity, the report said.

Proposed terminal locations include the Brew Pub or Sandridge lots, China Bridge, City Hall Plaza, the North Marsac lot, the Flagpole lot, and Richardson Flats.

The five terminal options located in or near Main Street would offer resort visitors an alternative to driving, helping ease traffic congestion and reduce demand for parking while increasing access to local businesses. The Richardson Flat location, while potentially useful in reducing traffic, may provide less direct economic benefit to Main Street due to its distance from the town core.

The report weighs multiple factors for each site, including the angle of ascent, proximity to the Old Town Transit Center, potential property conflicts, and parking impacts.

According to a staff report presented at the April 24 City Council meeting, 23% of Main Street visitors come from Deer Valley — a number expected to grow with the development of the Snow Park base area. The report also stated that “The gondola system may be more suitable as part of a long-term urban mobility strategy rather than an immediate cost-saving solution.”

Aerial transit has been periodically discussed over the years as a strategy to reduce traffic and improve mobility on Main Street, but no formal plan has yet emerged. With increasing growth and tourism, it remains a focal point in ongoing conversations around infrastructure, transportation, and economic access.

The presentation is scheduled to begin at 3:40 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26. Community members can attend in person at the Marsac Building or join online at parkcity.org.