Letter: Zion’s shuttle buses point the way to a solution to congestion in Cottonwood Canyons

The winter traffic congestion problems facing the Cottonwood Canyons, and the solutions thereto, are neither novel nor complex. Many other outdoor recreation locales have faced congestion challenges and have implemented successful solutions that the passage of time has borne out. As Mark Twain said, the best mistakes to learn from are someone else’s.

Rather than embarking on our own mistake-laden path to fix the congestion in the Cottonwood Canyons, let’s look to the tried and proven solutions as guidance to our own non-unique problems.

Zion National Park struggled with problems arising from the convergence of a couple of issues during peak times: increasing numbers of visitors, and topography that limits access, resulted in untenable congestion of private vehicles in the canyon.

Zion’s solution to the problem consists of a well-organized system of shuttle buses, together with a prohibition of private vehicles during peak hours. To solve the same problem and for the same reasons, the Cottonwood Canyons can implement a similar prohibition of private vehicles during peak hours in winter, perhaps from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. During these peak hours, a system of buses — some of which would stop at backcountry stops, and most of which would run directly to the resorts — would run very frequently and not be encumbered by private vehicle traffic. Perhaps larger and better-apportioned shelters at the various bus departure points could benefit skiers during their brief wait for the next shuttle. Once at the resorts, greatly increased amounts of lockers and storage facilities would accommodate all the personal effects and gear of skiers. With very few exceptions, drivers would not be able to drive personal vehicles in the canyons during peak hours — Just like Zion National Park. and many other recreation sites with similar congestion use issues. No need to widen the road, no need to build and operate a gondola system, just follow the tried and true solutions others have already successfully implemented.

Jeffrey William Hall, Salt Lake City

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