Final Transportation Plans Announced for Big Cottonwood Canyon

After several years of planning and public engagement, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has released its final plan for winter transportation in Big Cottonwood Canyon over the next three decades. As expected, the plan includes significantly expanded bus service, paired with congestion-based tolling, and a large mobility hub near the base of the canyon. For the most part, these changes are aligned with our mission to preserve the beauty and wildness of the canyon, while prioritizing common-sense transportation solutions.

Over the course of two comment periods, Save Our Canyons submitted several technical comments and participated in multiple stakeholder sessions and public meetings, and our members collectively sent hundreds of comments. We applaud UDOT for their work on this project, including a robust public engagement process, demonstrating that consensus on ground-based transit solutions is possible in the Cottonwood Canyons.

Projected to begin in November 2028, this bus service will be operated by UDOT or a contractor that they will hire. Service will operate on a more reliable, frequent, and predictable service than current service. Though the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) will no longer be the operator, they will continue operating connecting lines in the valley. A bus priority lane will also be added around Brighton Loop Road

Planned to be implemented simultaneously with enhanced bus service, this measure will lead visitors out of personal vehicles and towards the transit system. Funds raised through this program will likely be a primary lever for funding operations and maintenance for the bus service. In a vacuum, Save Our Canyons would not support adding tolls, though when paired with, and funding enhanced bus service, we believe this will be an important tool to manage congestion. The tolling is planned to begin just below Solitude Entry 1, and will not apply to lower portions of the canyon.

Capital investments for this project will be centered around the “Gravel Pit Mobility Hub” near the base of Big Cottonwood Canyon, within the footprint of the existing gravel pit. This mobility hub will include 1,750 parking stalls and a grade-separated interchange for personal vehicle access. Though specific connections to regional transit networks have not yet been identified, we have asked that care be taken to reduce car-dependency in accessing canyon transit. It is also expected that portions of this facility will be leased for amenities, a move that we support to improve rider experience. While not specifically called out in the BCC plan, we are also advocating for a second bus station at 9400 South Highland Drive in Sandy, to help spread out canyon users, and to provide residents with another hub for commuter needs.

New bus stops at upper-canyon trailheads will allow buses to pull off the roadway, and include coverings for dispersed recreation users. Stops at Brighton and Solitude will include large, heated buildings near resort bases. Similar to tolling, in a vacuum we would not support these new structures within the canyon; however, to implement the level of service that would truly make this project a success, we support these bus stops in concept and when paired with elevated busing service levels.

This project isn’t without critique. Similar to the Little Cottonwood Canyon EIS, the narrow scope in Big Cottonwood Canyon only provides winter service and does not address summer congestion or access issues. The narrow geographic scope of the plan also does not grasp the full picture of regional connectivity needs. This plan does not preclude progress on those needs in the future, and we encourage UDOT and partners to shift focus to these improvements once service is underway.

Lastly, there is a small win that Save Our Canyons members can claim in this final plan. As previously drafted, the bus stop at Solitude included a storage shed for maintenance vehicles directly atop Mill F Fork of Big Cottonwood Creek. Having a large garage pave over this stream, impacting water resources, led us and our members to recommend relocation of this storage facility to an alternate location. UDOT heard our requests, shrinking the overall footprint of this bus stop from 2.09 acres to 1.74 acres and relocating the storage facility to the other side of the bus stop.

Solitude bus stop before our suggestions

It’s not a perfect plan, but it has many good elements that will help with sustainable canyon transit. We look forward to the implementation of the plan, and will keep you updated as the work progresses and bus service comes online.