Utah's solution to ski traffic snarl? Build the world's longest gondola

  • 📰 KPBSnews
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 56 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 26%
  • Publisher: 63%

United States Headlines News

United States Latest News,United States Headlines

Two of Utah's most acclaimed ski resorts are at the end of a narrow canyon road that's increasingly jammed with traffic but the state's plan to fix it is sparking controversy.

Ali Scheifley and Kate Rath , visiting Alta from Colorado, stand on the resort's famous High Traverse.Whereas just 10 years ago many in the industry were hand-wringing over predictions that their sport's main clientele was"graying out," the exact opposite appears to have happened. Last year, the industryand resorts from Colorado to California reported continued increases in ticket and pass sales, especially as the pandemic brought more interest in outdoor recreation.

A few thousand feet below the stunning vistas of Alta's High Traverse, near the bottom of Little Cottonwood canyon, is where the dreaded"red snake" can come into view. That's what locals call the seemingly endless line of thousands of red tail lights idling along route 210. "We take the bus and while we're waiting, we see so many cars with single drivers, I mean, nobody's carpooling," he adds.

"The gondola is going to travel at a constant speed," Maughan says."So when the road surface becomes slick, it's not going to slow down because it's snowing."— according to a recent environmental impact study — would involve stringing a cable on towers 260 feet above the road, with gondola cabins attached that could hold 35 skiers. Cabins would depart every two minutes from the mouth of the canyon, where a large parking structure and terminal would need to be built.

"I see it as a revenue builder, a little gold star for the government to say we put this gondola in and we've brought even more tourists," Palmer says.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 240. in US

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

As Utahns quarrel over abortion, Utah Republican officials push for more restrictions nationwideMembers of Utah's federal delegation, the attorney general and state lawmakers have continued their push to limit access to abortion both in Utah and nationwide in recent days. I’m Mormon that teaches is between woman & God. Unless there’s a listening machine I dont know about it’s only her choice. Anything else is advice & personal opinions. Why? Are you suggesting there's some sort of plausible rationale that relates to overall sound policy? Or that they are throwing out raw red meat to the multitudes of Zion. 'Cause I strongly suspect it is the latter. Good
Source: sltrib - 🏆 316. / 61 Read more »

Why Utah Republicans want more abortion restrictionsAnti-abortion demonstrators set up a macabre display outside the Utah Capitol Wednesday, with a hearse and a small coffin. I’ll save you a click: fascism. That’s the reason. They want control over others. This is fucking crazy Republicans on a rampage.
Source: sltrib - 🏆 316. / 61 Read more »

Two Temple women’s basketball players are suspended; two more leave the teamSophomore guards Jasha Clinton and Aniya Gourdine have been suspended for a violation of team rules ahead of Wednesday's game at Tulane.
Source: PhillyDailyNews - 🏆 89. / 67 Read more »

Manhattan man charged for stabbing spree that killed two, injured two others in December | amNewYorkA Manhattan man was officially indicted on charges for fatally stabbing two people in two separate incidents, prosecutors announced Thursday.
Source: amNewYork - 🏆 336. / 59 Read more »

US-born Spanish woman is now the world's oldest person, at age 115 | CNNMaria Branyas Morera has survived the horrors of two world wars, a civil war and two global pandemics Moreof Europe. I guess when it is an African in Africa. Then it doesn’t count. In Kenya there is someone older then who you have stated. Jesus offers eternal life Jesus offers eternal life ... when Jesus returns , sets up his new kingdom , satan gone .. no horror
Source: CNN - 🏆 4. / 95 Read more »

Vaccine passport ban appears to be contagious in Utah HouseUtah Rep. Walt Brooks, R-St. George, is again presenting a bill to bar private businesses from requiring proof of vaccination for customers and employees. Last year the bill died in the Utah Senate without a vote on the final night of the session. Seems like there are already a lot of exceptions included just to work around the immediately obvious challenges. Is this even going to change or achieve anything if passed?
Source: sltrib - 🏆 316. / 61 Read more »