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

UDOT released an addendum to the June 8, 2020 Draft Alternatives Development and Screening Report on November 20, 2020, which identified two new alternatives, a Gondola from La Caille and a Cog Rail from La Caille, to be evaluated in more detail in the EIS and minor revisions for the existing alternatives determined reasonable in the June 8 report – enhanced bus service, enhanced bus service with a shoulder lane and a gondola from the LCC park-and-ride. UDOT is evaluating a full range of reasonable alternatives that meet the project’s purpose and need.
 
UDOT is aware that the new and existing alternatives may have impacts within the 26-acre open space parcel recently acquired by Cottonwood Heights City and Utah Open Lands and that you may have questions or comments about how the new alternatives may impact area resources not identified in the addendum report.
 
The two new alternatives were designed by UDOT, independently of the land acquisition process between Cottonwood Heights City, the previous landowners, and Utah Open Lands. The land acquisition team was unaware of the specific details and release timeline for the two new alternatives being developed, as the new and refined alternatives were only recently released by UDOT for public review. UDOT understands the concerns raised by Cottonwood Heights city officials and will work to coordinate ongoing efforts with Cottonwood Heights to evaluate any impacts and limitations to this protected open space parcel. As part of the EIS process, the project team will further refine the alternatives to avoid, minimize or mitigate conflicts with open space. 
 
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the project team will evaluate the potential impacts of all five reasonable alternatives. The analysis will evaluate potential impacts to all resources considered in the EIS, including those associated with open space and other lands so UDOT can understand the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative in making an informed decision. The evaluation process will include coordination with stakeholders to better understand how alternatives will impact the natural and human environment. 
 
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 (including the recently acquired open space) of each of the five alternatives and will identify a preferred alternative. This analysis will occur over the next several months and includes ongoing coordination between UDOT and key stakeholders. The Draft EIS is expected to be released to the public in Summer 2021 and a 45-day 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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Project

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
Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121