SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Transit Authority board of trustees is considering whether to increase bus service in the Cottonwood canyons for the upcoming ski season.
Changes would increase the frequency of buses to Big and Little Cottonwood canyon resorts and improve midday ski bus service. A new ski bus route is also under consideration between Davis County and Snowbasin Resort in Huntsville.
The changes were discussed during a Monday meeting of the UTA board's executive committee at the agency offices near downtown Salt Lake City.
Traffic has long been an issue in the canyons, with vehicles often snaking for miles up and down the roads during heavy-use days, said UTA spokesman Remi Barron. In response, the agency has developed a service proposal that would improve ski bus service by implementing a 35 percent increase in canyon ski service trips, all-day service during ski season at 15-minute intervals during peak traffic times and 30-minute service during the day, along with connections with FrontRunner at the Murray Central Station, he said.
The changes would result in about 300 additional parking spaces for ski bus riders. There would be no additional cost to riders or taxpayers, said UTA chief transit planner Chris Chestnut. If approved, the service could be available for the upcoming ski season.
Plans for the ski bus service proposal were made in conjunction with Mountain Accord, a consortium of 20 public and private entities collaborating to plan for future development of the central Wasatch recreation areas.
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