Brighton raises roadside parking reservation fee to $20 despite calls for more revenue transparency

The Brighton Town Council voted on March 11 to raise the roadside parking reservation fee to $20, a change sponsors said is intended to move vehicles off the highway and into managed lots.

Councilmember Carolyn Kickley, who introduced the proposal, said the primary goal is safety: “If our goal is safety and get the cars off the road and into the resort parking lots, I think this would help,” she said. After discussion about equity and the possibility of exempting backcountry spots, Kickley moved that the fee be increased to $20 with an implementation date next year; the motion was seconded and carried by roll call.

Public commenters urged caution and transparency. Danny Poirier, director of Wasatch Backcountry Alliance, said his group “does not support increasing the roadside parking reservation fee” and asked the council to require data on system usage and a clear accounting of where reservation revenue goes before approving fee increases that could restrict access to public lands. Another caller suggested looking for ways to encourage busing and to provide park‑and‑walk spaces to reduce dangerous roadside walking.

Councilmembers debated the equity tradeoffs: supporters argued higher fees change repeat behavior and reduce roadside congestion, while opponents and members of the public asked for clearer information about usage, who benefits and how revenue is reinvested. The transcript records the motion and the council's affirmative action; a complete tally is not provided in the record but the chair announced the motion carried.

Next steps: council directed the fee change to be implemented next year to allow additional public conversation and administrative preparation; staff did not provide a new detailed revenue allocation plan during this meeting.