Council members who attended the Utah League of Cities and Towns conference reported that enhanced bus service in Little Cottonwood Canyon is unlikely in the near term because the project in the UDOT environmental impact statement (EIS) is being held up by litigation.

The mayor said the timing of any enhanced bus service “is entirely up to UDOT” and that his understanding is litigation prevents implementation; he told the council he expects “we won't see any improvement in public transportation to Alta for at least 3 years.” Another council member said discussions between UTA and plaintiffs were ongoing, and that a negotiating outcome could be known “certainly before the end of the year and possibly as soon as the next six weeks,” though bus procurement and lead times could delay deployment longer (one speaker said UTA takes about a year to get a bus once ordered).

Council discussion also highlighted regional concerns that visitors place disproportionate demand on emergency services while property owners pay most of the costs. Council members discussed elevating the issue to the state legislature and engaging county council representatives and local legislators to explore remedies. One council member suggested the use of a visitor‑use or “disproportionate use” tax as a possible funding mechanism; staff said the county EMS and other agencies were working on plans to preserve relevant funds and that the town would reach out to county council representatives to weigh in.

No ordinance, resolution or formal action was taken; council members asked staff to investigate options and to follow up with county and state representatives after the election results clarify legislative representation.