The Utah Transit Authority is bumping up its bus service to Salt Lake County ski resorts.

This year, the ski service -- which starts Dec. 14 -- will include a quicker route from the University of Utah, direct buses to Snowbird and Alta and expanded hours for employee shuttles.

"We're really doing all we can to get people up the canyon and down the canyon as quickly as [possible] so they don't have to be in all their gear for long periods of time," UTA spokeswoman Carrie Bohnsack-Ware said Thursday.

That means U. of U. students will be able to hop on a direct bus, Route 952, to reach canyon shuttles.

"We're definitely excited about how much easier it will be for students to get to the resorts," Ski Utah spokeswoman Jessica Kunzer said. "One of our greatest strengths, besides our snow quality, is Utah resorts' accessibility."

Canyon buses will be starting farther from the mouths of Little and Big Cottonwood canyons at various park-and-ride lots, such as 2000 East and 9400 South, where there are more spaces. In fact, drivers can see, in real time, how many spaces are available at ski lots, by visiting www.rideuta.com/spaces.aspx.

UTA will send more of its Little Cottonwood Canyon buses exclusively to Snowbird or Alta to avoid running return buses that fill up at one resort, leaving no room for tired skiers and boarders at the next stop.

rwinters@sltrib.com