Wasatch Mountains Transportation Study USA
Ecosign collaborated with a consulting team led by Fehrs and Peers, specialists in transportation planning and engineering, to conduct a study assessing alternative transportation options for Utah’s Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. The project aimed to address growing traffic congestion and safety concerns during the ski season for visitors to Alta and Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon, and Brighton and Solitude in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
The proximity of these resorts to Salt Lake City, combined with winter snow and ice during peak demand, has led to severe congestion and frequent accidents, negatively impacting the ski experience for both regional and destination visitors.
Salt Lake City commissioned the Wasatch Mountains Transportation Study to analyze existing traffic conditions and propose solutions to meet current and future demand. Ecosign’s role was to design and plan an aerial cable transit system—a multi-stage gondola connecting an intercept parking lot at the canyon’s base to all four ski areas. This gondola concept was evaluated against other options, including roadway expansion for private vehicles and buses, and a Swiss-style rack-rail system. All proposed solutions were designed to integrate with Salt Lake City’s transit network and nearby recreational facilities such as hiking and biking trails.
Ecosign developed a conceptual alignment plan for the gondola system, including potential extensions to Park City. The study concluded that aerial cable transit offered the highest passenger capacity and the lowest cost-per-capacity ratio compared to other mass transit modes such as bus or rail.
