The future of the Wasatch depends on how we move people to and through these mountains. For decades, Save Our Canyons has advocated for transportation solutions that protect watershed resources, reduce congestion, and preserve the wild character of the Wasatch. Continue reading for an update on where transit planning for the Central Wasatch Mountains stands today.
Little Cottonwood Canyon: Phase 1 Finally Moving Forward
When transportation planning processes, and, as a result, outcomes, seek to balance conservation values with other interests, these processes can benefit us all. Unfortunately, the Little Cottonwood Canyon (LCC) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process, heavily favored politically-connected private development interests above all else in the outcome. From our perspective, the gondola would do irreparable harm to the beauty and wildness of the canyon. So, we filed a lawsuit, which was later merged into a joint lawsuit with our partners at Salt Lake City, Metro Water, Friends of Alta, and Canyon Guard.
Unfortunately, for years, UDOT used it as leverage to also not move toward parts of the EIS that we agree with, like enhanced busing. But, in late 2025 and early 2026, UDOT announced they were going to work toward busing in Big Cottonwood Canyon. We know that these plans cannot happen in silos. Working toward busing in one canyon will have impacts on the other. So, we were very glad to see that near the end of 2025, UDOT announced it would work toward Phase 1 of their EIS, much of which we agree with.
Today, we are working with all the stakeholders to make sure that this plan is successful. We are continuing to advocate for elevated service levels, increased timing, and efficiency of the buses themselves. We are also working with UDOT and partners like Wasatch Backcountry Alliance, Canyon Guard, and the Town of Alta and Alta Ski Area to make sure these plans are comprehensive and fit the character of the place we all love.
We will keep you updated on the project as more plans come to light, and with the status of our pending litigation.
Big Cottonwood Canyon: A New EA — and a Final Decision
Following the direction of Senate Bill 2 (2023), which directed UDOT to provide enhanced bus service, tolling, a mobility hub, and resort bus stops for both canyons, UDOT launched its environmental study for Big Cottonwood Canyon (BCC) in 2024.
The plan released in December 2025 centers on buses, tolls, and no gondola. The canyon is already at capacity, with congestion on every busy weekend regardless of conditions. UDOT issued a Record of Decision in May 2026, formally allowing the agency to begin final design and right-of-way acquisition. The plan calls for a 1,750-stall parking structure and mobility hub near the Fort Union/Wasatch Boulevard intersection. Known as the Gravel Pit Hub, this will service both Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons.
The plan also has bus service increasing from the current 30-minute frequency to 10–15 minutes, with a goal of 7-minute frequency by 2050, a dedicated bus-only transitway at the mobility hub, a bus priority lane at Brighton Loop, and a variable-priced toll to reduce congestion and encourage transit use. The total projected cost is $264.5 million, with implementation potentially beginning in 2028. Sources: The Salt Lake Tribune KSL
The study projects that bus travel times could improve from nearly 36 minutes today to approximately 25 minutes by 2050 — about half of what’s projected without these improvements. Source: KSL NewsRadio
Save Our Canyons has long held that transit, not gondolas or rail, is the right solution for the canyons. SOC believes the best method to improve transportation while preserving wilderness character is a reliable, affordable, and efficient shuttle system using vans and buses — one that is operational year-round and serves all canyon visitors: resort skiers, dispersed users, hikers, resort employees, and summer visitors alike. On the BCC Environmental Assessment, SOC expressed measured support for the proposed action but flagged key gaps: the EA only addresses wintertime congestion, does not improve year-round transit, and does not adequately account for connection to regional transit networks. We are urging UDOT to expand the scope to include year-round service and better integration with UTA and the Wasatch Front Regional Council.
The Big Picture
After years of gridlock, both canyons are now on a path toward real, near-term transit improvements built around buses, tolling, and mobility hubs. The gondola question in LCC remains alive in federal court, but its construction, if it ever happens, is decades away. The conservation community is largely united: get buses running, connect them to the regional network, make them year-round, and then evaluate whether any further infrastructure is actually needed. The 2034 Winter Olympics loom as a critical forcing function, putting added urgency on delivering a canyon transit system that actually works.
