Park City leaders want to learn more details about the possibility of creating an aerial transit system linking the community with a location close to the S.R. 248 entryway.
Mayor Nann Worel and the Park City Council on Thursday addressed aerial transit as they continue to consider creating what would be a dramatic traffic-fighting addition to the transportation network.
There was support for more research into whether Richardson Flat would be a suitable spot for an aerial system connecting to the Snow Park base at Deer Valley Resort, where major development is planned. The Richardson Flat land is off U.S. 40 close to Quinn’s Junction. A park-and-ride lot is already at Richardson Flat. There was also a desire to learn about Deer Valley Resort’s plans for aerial transit within the resort and how a wider system could fit with one at the resort.
The elected officials were not scheduled to cast formal votes about aerial transit on Thursday, but the direction to further consider Richardson Flat was nonetheless important amid broader talks about potential routes in Park City. Formal decisions about routes, equipment and financial matters appear to be well in the future, should a system be pursued.
The talks are underway amid long-running concerns about traffic in Park City. City Hall has over the years attempted to reduce the backups through a variety of measures with limited success. There is renewed urgency with the complaints continuing and with the possibility of tapping any transportation-related monies that may be made available as the area prepares for the 2034 Winter Olympics.
City Councilor Ed Parigian was one of the elected officials who wanted a system connecting with a park-and-ride lot. He described a route as potentially becoming popular as a transportation solution and a tourist attraction, depending on the type of equipment that would be used.
“People might want to just park there just to get that fabulous view of the Jordanelle, the mountains, in a tram situation” he said.
Another member of the City Council, Ryan Dickey, sought details about the time it would take riders of an aerial transit system to move to and from Richardson Flat. He noted earlier research into city-owned land off Bonanza Drive and Kearns Boulevard projected it could take 37 minutes to travel between that location and Snow Park. City Hall staff answers that the trip could take between 20 and 30 minutes via one of the systems researched.
There was also discussion about an aerial route between the Main Street core and Snow Park. Parigian questioned the purpose of such a route.
“Is this a transportation improvement or is this a Disneyesque improvement?” he said.
City Councilor Jeremy Rubell also commented about that potential route.
“The key question here is what are we trying to accomplish, right? Who’s it for? Main Street to Snow Park feels like a novelty. It just doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense. Could have benefits for the impact and investment. Not sure those benefits are worth pursuing, necessarily. Our transit system is pretty strong and gets better every day,” he said.