LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) began an Environmental Impact Statement in the spring of 2018 for Little Cottonwood Canyon and Wasatch Boulevard in partnership with Utah Transit Authority and the USDA Forest Service to provide an integrated transportation system that improves the reliability, mobility, and safety for residents, visitors, and commuters who use S.R. 210.

Ultimately, the partners seek to deliver transportation options that meet the needs of the community while preserving the value of the Wasatch Mountains.

UDOT held a public comment period from June 8 to July 10, 2020 to receive input on the draft alternatives presented in the June 8 report. As a result of public feedback, UDOT has added two new draft transportation alternatives as part of the Little Cottonwood Canyon Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
 
The two new alternatives are a gondola from La Caille and cog rail from La Caille. The new alternatives were developed from the more than 6,500 public comments and will be carried forward for further evaluation in the Draft EIS.
 
The two alternatives join the three previously identified in June 2020 (enhanced bus service, enhanced bus service in a dedicated shoulder lane, and a gondola). 

Addendum Report
Addendum Executive Summary

LCC EIS Draft Alternatives Screening Report Addendum Update - Nov. 20, 2020​

UDOT Little Cottonwood Canyon EIS National Environmental Policy Act Process Video​

STUDY AREA MAP

STUDY PROCESS AND TIMELINE

Spring 2018
PUBLIC SCOPING
Spring 2018
Spring 2019
REVISED PUBLIC SCOPING
Spring 2019
Fall 2019
DRAFT PURPOSE AND NEED AND ALTERNATIVE SCREENING CRITERIA
Fall 2019
Summer to Fall 2020
ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPMENT AND REFINEMENT
Summer to Fall 2020
Summer 2021
DRAFT EIS
Summer 2021
Winter 2021/2022
FINAL EIS/ROD
Winter 2021/2022

ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPMENT AND REFINEMENT

On November 20, 2020, UDOT released an addendum to the June 8, 2020 Draft Alternatives Development and Screening Report, which identifies two new alternatives, a Gondola from La Caille and a Cog Rail from La Caille. The two new alternatives will be evaluated further in the EIS along with the existing three alternatives – enhanced bus service, enhanced bus service with a shoulder lane and a gondola from the LCC park and ride. The public comment period held from June 8 to July 10, 2020 provided the project team input on the draft alternatives presented in the addendum report.

Over 6,500 comments were received during the comment period, which can be viewed on the project website. The two new alternatives and the refinements to the alternatives identified in June 2020 are a result of public comments. This is what makes public participation a vital component of the study and the project team appreciates the time everyone has committed throughout this process.

The next phase of the Little Cottonwood Canyon EIS process is the development of the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS will provide a detailed analysis of the impacts to the social, economic, built and natural environment of each of the five alternatives and will identify a preferred alternative.

The Draft EIS is expected to be released in Summer 2021. Another public review and comment period will be held at that time.

SUBMIT COMMENTS

Comments received outside of formal comment periods are valuable to the process and will be considered as part of the alternative refinement process. These will be documented in the project record but may not be included in the reports or receive a response.
EIS Comment Form
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CONTACT US

For more information on the transportation planning efforts underway on S.R. 210 and in Little Cottonwood Canyon or to share your ideas, please send the project team an email, give us a call or join the Facebook Group.

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801-200-3465

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Little Cottonwood Canyon EIS
c/o HDR
2825 E Cottonwood Parkway, Suite 200
Salt Lake City, UT 84121