- Poma France introduces LIFE terminals equivalent to Leitner’s new ROPERA.
- Italian manufacturer Graffer wins tenders to build its two detachable lifts utilizing technology from Turkish manufacturer Anadolu Teleferik.
- Despite the new projects, Graffer’s owner says he’s not trying to take on Leitner and Doppelmayr.
- The Toronto Zoo nears a deal with a private company to build a short gondola.
- Sunrise Park, Arizona leaves Indy Pass.
- The Forest Service seeks public comment on Keystone’s proposal to replace A-51 with a detachable quad.
- Forest Service staffing cuts slow projects approvals, shift work to outside consultants.
- The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey breaks ground on a $3.5 billion automated people mover powered by Doppelmayr tech.
- Timberline Lodge outlines an extraordinary rise in insurance costs leading to price increases.
- Friends of Little Cottonwood Canyon argues escalating costs make a canyon 3S unfeasible.
- Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz revives his podcast about the company.
- Tijuana, Mexico to jump on the urban gondola bandwagon.
- Sponsored job: Electrician at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Lift Blog 
The Little Cottonwood Canyon saga is never-ending. The fact is that any “enhanced” bus service will have little to no impact. Unless the number of cars driving up the canyon is DRASTICALLY reduced, as in by cutting the amount of parking spaces in half, then it’s going to be the same red snake going up and down, and the buses will constantly be stuck in traffic. No one wants to ride buses that get stuck in traffic if they can drive their own car instead. The gondola will allow people to bypass the traffic, but it still won’t “fix” traffic, because there are simply too many cars going up there.
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I feel it will never end. At this point it’s probably a better point to focus on the shrinking lakes rather than the transportation up Lcc. I feel that the gondola is the most feasible concept. The other alternative in my opinion is to building a tunnel over the existing road. To prevent snow build up and help avalanche proof the road. But that is way too expensive.
It does crack me up a bit. To see how much they are fighting. They have every right to do so. I just wish they would help focus their parts on the lake and how it helps the climate. I sure wish I could find people this passionate about preserving historic structures as they are to blocking this gondola.
It does crack me up.
I get they want the mountains the way they use to be at least 10 or so years ago. But those days are long gone. They are always busy no matter the season. But with a huge population increase comes more people wanting to enjoy nature
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Those anti-gondola people sound like NIMBYs who don’t want to admit that they’re NIMBYs.
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From what I hear, any NIMBY can claim they own the view of the canyon when in reality they actually DON’T. They can only control their own property but NEVER the surroundings. If they are worried about a gondola ruining their view of the canyon, have them be glad it doesn’t directly influence their land nearby.
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The project at Toronto Zoo caught my eye. Never heard of Eco Trek, but they seem to be in to adventure rides. They mention their projects at San Diego Zoo (Von Roll), Oakland Zoo (Doppelmayr and Hopkins) and CNE (also Hopkins). Their ‘artistic rendering’ leaves a bit to be desired. I wonder if they will partner with SkyTrans for equipment?
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I personally think they might go with Leitner-Poma due to their massive presence within Ontario (they’ve built a ton of lifts in the province)
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I drive through SLC & Park City frequently. I was part of the construction team that built the first lifts at Deer Valley. As everyone knows the population has exploded on both sides of the mountain. Then you throw in all the winter ski traffic. It doesn’t seem like there is any short term solution for the Cottonwood Canyons traffic jams or SLC in general. As Deer Valley expands major traffic jams will be part of life in that area for the foreseeable future.
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I often wonder what the issues would be today if a well thought out toll program had been implemented in some of these troubled corridors say 20 years ago (Colorado’s I-70 included).
I’m pretty confident it wouldn’t have slowed skier visits, we already know people tolerate the traffic conditions today.
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I no longer go up to the mountains on weekends. M-Thursday only.
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I have to agree. Things were great in the 70s, 80s, and most of the 90s, but it’s just been chaos since. Too may people trying to get to the mountains.
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