I’m attending a public hearing meeting on alternative transportation plans for the massively overcrowded Little Cottonwood canyon that is just up the street from me. Interestingly one of the more promising plans is a Gondola. Cars every 2 minutes and 24 minutes from base to snowbird, and another 4 to Alta. Thats not far off what it takes to drive plus it would massively cut down on traffic, smog and stanky brakes.
Of the three plans (more busses, more road and more busses and gondola) the gondola is the middle for cost, and would add an element of cool the Canyon. I’m for it. Granted it’s going to be over budget, there will be issues of land use and privatization, it will add an element of noise to the canyon, etc. But honestly it’s still better than more cars or busses in the canyon.
Granted their plan is kind of dumb as it requires to get to the base station via bus, which means you have to add 25 minutes to the ride on a bus to get to it. The resorts are lobbying to add a parking lot at the base, which would make the whole thing work.