Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Regional Transportation Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wasatch Front planners say 2,600+ comments flooded draft RTP; many oppose Little Cottonwood gondola
Summary
Wasatch Front Regional Council staff told the Regional Growth Committee they received more than 2,600 public comments on the draft 2027–2055 regional transportation plan, with substantial opposition to a proposed gondola in Little Cottonwood Canyon; staff reiterated a phased approach and said $350 million has been identified for Phase 1 canyon investments.
Don Ramsey, chairing the Regional Growth Committee in Mayor Tammy Tran’s absence, opened a staff update on the draft 2027–2055 regional transportation plan and public feedback. Jory Jonner, WFRC’s long-range planning manager, told the committee the plan’s 30‑day public comment period yielded more than 2,600 submissions and that “most of those comments came in opposition of the gondola up Little Cottonwood Canyon.”
The committee heard that the RTP is being developed on a phased basis and that environmental-review results — including any UDOT‑led EIS findings — will be incorporated into the plan. Andrew Gruber, WFRC executive director, stressed that the council supports a phased approach and highlighted progress on Phase 1 investments: “the state has identified some $350,000,000 for phase 1 investments in Little And Big Cottonwood Canyons,” targeted for completion in time for the 2028 ski season.
Why it matters: the RTP sets regionwide priorities for transportation projects that guide federal and state funding applications. Committee members and staff emphasized that phases 1 and 2 (initial service improvements such as increased bus service, tolling and mobility hubs) should be implemented and evaluated before any later-phase projects proceed.
WFRC staff said they had also received substantial feedback supporting the Rio Grande plan and that they were coordinating closely with UTA and local jurisdictions on project-level concerns. Staff reiterated that no formal action on adoption is scheduled until May 2027, and they asked the committee to continue providing input through fall workshops and performance‑measurement exercises.
Next steps: staff will sort projects into 10‑year phases using the committee’s earlier feedback, publish phasing results at fall workshops, complete required federal performance and air‑quality analyses, and target formal plan adoption in May 2027.
