Ticket to Ride

“Political pressure” comes to bear on Little Cottonwood Canyon transportation plans

By Eric S. Peterson and Jennifer Greenlee

In December 2020, Central Wasatch Commission executive director, and former Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph

Becker, was fixated on one of several transportation alternatives that were discussed regarding how to get skiers, hikers and bikers up Little Cottonwood

Canyon while keeping cars out.

“With a train, it’s possible we could get to the point where we don’t really have cars,” Becker said excitedly. Commission staff has made an initial recommendation for the cog rail proposal, and the Utah Department of Transportation included the rail route in an Environmental Impact Study it is currently developing. While there is a lot of enthusiasm, there’s also some skepticism. This proposal was only inserted into the study process late last fall, after the CWC had already been studying other alternatives. The proposal has raised concerns from the U.S. Forest Service that it might clash with federal regulations against transportation projects that impact public parks and recreation areas.

In a January 21 email obtained by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project,

Forest Service staff discuss the fact that UDOT originally ruled out a rail route up the canyon but then changed their minds.

“UDOT had originally screened-out the cog rail, but due to industry and political pressure (not FS), UDOT decided to carry the cog rail evaluation through,” the email reads.

While cog rail is an exciting prospect, it may also be a lucrative one for C.W. Management, a development company owned by influential former Utah State Senate President Wayne Niederhauser and former Sandy City Councilman Chris McCandless. The company owns the La Caille estate that is the base station for a proposed gondola up the canyon, and the base for the only proposed rail route.

This same company has been very well positioned in the canyons, having also developed property at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, shortly after Niederhauser passed legislation to pave the way for toll roads in the canyons.

“It’s a jigsaw”

The CWC has worked in tandem with UDOT on the canyon transportation question. The goal is being able to reduce congestion up the canyon by putting 1,000 people on transit per hour. The CWC discussed its option in a meeting in March of this year. The proposals included two enhanced bus route options, one of which would include widening roads up the canyon. The first bus option comes with a $334 million price tag, while the widened road options would reach $481 million. While these were the cheapest options, they did not account for the fact that the buses would need to be replaced in 12 years.

Two aerial gondolas were proposed, one from the canyon park-and-ride costing $546 million, and another from the La Caille property costing $576 million.

Only one cog rail route was proposed. With La Caille as the base station, this proposal would cost $1.5 billion. CWC Deputy Director Blake Perez explains that while the CWC has been studying the alternatives since 2020, UDOT will have the final say. The CWC looks at a larger picture of access issues across the Wasatch Front.

“It’s a jigsaw puzzle, and what UDOT is looking at is one piece of that puzzle,” Perez says. He says the CWC staff were able to adapt quickly in November of 2020 and study cog rail after UDOT made the late addition of the La Caille rail and gondola routes part of the Environmental Impact Study or EIS. The CWC staff endorsed the rail option by finding it scored the highest

Rendering of proposed gondolas

on a comprehensive matrix of factors including environmental, safety, reliability and others. Perez notes the full commission has not yet made an official recommendation but is likely to this summer.

Invariably with such a project, not all pieces of the puzzle are going to fit. David Carter, with the Salt Lake Climber Alliance, worries about the impact the late proposed options will have on climbing and bouldering in the canyon, especially in historic areas that have undergone significant work to be restored and maintained by the nonprofit.

“We were a little surprised by the additional alternatives,” Carter says of the La Caille routes. “It seems they were released without as much notice and without the public comment and engagement processes.”

UDOT Little Cottonwood Canyon Project Manager Josh Van Jura is adamant, however, that the late additions were not due to political pressure and were actually the result of public comment. “It was not added back in because of political pressure,” Van Jura says. “As part of the public comment period, we did get a comment that said, ‘why aren’t you looking at a cog rail at the same origin point as Gondola B?’”

Public comments, however, also showed amazement about the nature of the UDOT proposal. One Cottonwood Heights resident, for example, complained that UDOT overlooked the fact that the new La Caille proposals would impact a 26-acre open space parcel recently acquired by Cottonwood Heights City and Utah Open Lands.

While UDOT had sent a notice saying they would study how to mitigate impact on the open space, they also acknowledged they were unaware of the city’s open-space purchase when they proposed the La Caille alternatives.

The resident noted that the confused decisions by the agency would cause people to speculate about why canyon improvements were being made in the first place.

“Many will conclude that the only reason now for massive improvements on SR-210 is to make sure that Snowbird Ski Resort and McCandless and Niederhauser become rich at public expense,” the resident wrote.

The Forest Service would not provide comment for this article. But email discussions show the federal agency’s confusion about UDOT’s decision-

making. In a January 20 email, Uinta-WasatchCache National Forest District Ranger Bekee Hotze asked another staffer: “I thought the cog and gondola were going through Tanner Park, but the write-up says no,” she wrote of the new UDOT alternatives. “However, for the cog, the alignment goes right through Grit Mill, which was just completed and cost over half a million dollars.” UDOT’s draft EIS has been in development since 2018, and now, after adding the two new routes, it’s expected the draft will be issued this summer, at which time the public will have more opportunities to offer feedback. Update: UDOT has now released two preferred routes for Little Cottonwood Canyon. One is Enhanced Bus Service and the other is Gondola Alternative B with the base station at La Caille. More info can be found at UDOT’s site littleconttonwoodeis@udot.utah.gov.

Buy it or Lose it

C.W. Management would not respond to repeated requests for comment, but partner and developer Chris McCandless has been very frank in meetings with the CWC about the precious opportunity he could offer by utilizing his La Caille property as a transportation base. In a December 1, 2020 meeting with the CWC, McCandless discussed the project and their personal stake in it.

“We’re big fans of Little Cottonwood Canyon,” McCandless said. “We spend a lot of time there and we’d love to see a solution before we can’t ski anymore.” He also noted that they have a parking structure with an 1,800 stall capacity available and ready to be put to use. However, he also warned that his company’s financial stake meant that he would need to sell the property for it to be used as a transportation base. He noted that the company would be able to hold onto it only for a few years, and if they didn’t have a buyer, they would develop homes at the location instead.

That would mean passing on the rail opportunity, especially as UDOT has only advanced the La Caille rail alternative.

“If we put a bunch of houses on it,” McCandless said. “That opportunity is gone.”

Rendering of proposed gondolas

Caffe Molise

Perfect Patio Dining

10 Perfect Patios for Outdoor Dining

By Ted Scheffler

With the exception of a few picnic tables scattered here and there outside of shrimp and chicken shacks, I don’t really remember outdoor dining being “a thing” when I was young. Today, however, al fresco seating can be found in restaurants ranging from fast food franchise eateries to Michelin 3-Star fine dining restaurants, and everywhere in between. That is a good thing. And, if there is any upside to a worldwide pandemic, it might be that it forced many restaurants to either expand, improve, or add outdoor seating options that were previously limited or nonexistent. With many more toasty summer days ahead, here are 10 of my favorite outdoor dining spots.

One-0-Eight Bistro

Located in the beautiful Yalecrest space that was previously home to Sea Salt, One-0-Eight Bistro sports one of the largest and loveliest patios in town. During Sunday brunch every other week, guests can enjoy live jazz on the patio, in addition to mimosa specials and menu temptations such as local burrata with basil-arugula pesto and balsamic tomatoes; a terrific sandwich called Le Ardenne with brie, apple, arugula pesto and tapenade; smoked salmon hash; biscuits & gravy; avocado toast; a killer Cuban sandwich, and much more, including some of the friendliest servers around.

Caffe Molise

Although Caffe Molise is located on busy South West Temple, you wouldn’t know it while seated at a quiet table on the gorgeous enclosed patio. There, you might kick off an al fresco meal with antipasti del giorno, followed by involtini di pollo — boneless chicken breast stuffed with prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes, Asiago and herbs, then rolled and served with a luscious white wine-butter sauce. And don’t forget, the lasagne at Caffe Molise is legendary. And, this sunny slice of Italy in downtown SLC also sports one of the city’s best wine lists.

The Garage on Beck

One of SLC’s most inviting patios — and one of the biggest — is at The Garage on Beck. Enjoy live music at The Garage ranging from national treasures like Bill Kirchen, to local ones such as Michelle Moonshine, while noshing on comfort foods like chipotle mac n’ cheese; the fiery Nashville hot chicken sandwich; burgers galore; meatloaf; and Mama’s pot pie. Or, since The Garage on Beck is a roadhouse-style bar, you can enjoy your favorite adult beverage on the patio even if you’re not hungry.

Grappa

One of my favorite Park City outdoor dining venues is Grappa, situated in a multi-level historic house at the top of Main Street in Old Town. The views from the dining decks are spectacular, with tables surrounded by a dazzling array of fresh plants and flowers. And the Italian cuisine at Grappa is just as spectacular. Calamari fritti and snow crab ravioli are two excellent summertime starters, to be followed perhaps by the awesome osso bucco, roasted branzino, scallops risotto, or maybe lobster fregola sarda.

Arlo

At Milo Carrier’s Arlo restaurant, Marmalade neighborhood views are abundant from the patio as you enjoy fresh bread made daily with outstanding

Pig & A Jelly Jar

French-style butter or cheese and crackers with triple cream brie to start your dinner with. Appealing entrees include ravioli with roasted spring greens, Gruyere, lemon and spring peas, halibut with olive oil-crushed potatoes, asparagus, and summer squash pesto, and pork with heirloom braised beans, spinach, and a sherry-cider sauce. As with the cuisine, the service at Arlo is top-notch too.

Afterword by Tupelo Park City

In Heber City, Afterword by Tupelo Park City restaurant offers guests a gorgeous patio for outdoor dining as well as free live music on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. I recommend the fire-roasted lamb T-bone bites to start, or maybe an English pea and feta spring salad. Whether dining on the patio or indoors, you won’t want to pass up Chef/Owner Matt Harris’ spectacular fried chicken with pimento mac n’ cheese, collard greens, and spicy pickles. The shrimp & grits are also marvelous.

Oasis Cafe

The Oasis Cafe in downtown SLC truly is an oasis — a tranquil respite from the hustle and bustle of the city with one of the most endearing courtyard patios — and one of the oldest in town. Folks who are gluten free will appreciate the

Sapa Sushi & Asian Grill

gluten free menu at Oasis, and dishes like the famous paprika-crusted chicken, eggplant parmesan risotto, and udon peanut stir-fry are all well-worn crowd pleasers.

Stoneground Italian Kitchen

Another downtown patio escape is to be found in the rear of Stoneground Italian Kitchen. There, you will enjoy award-winning Italian-inspired cuisine from uber-talented Chef Justin Shifflett, including house-made, from-scratch pizzas and pastas, as well as popular menu items like the polenta tots with truffle oil; sweet garlic PEI mussels; scallop ceviche; broccolini agrodolce; and much more, including a bustling bar. This is truly one of the most inviting patios in the city.

Sapa Sushi Bar & Asian Grill

Sapa Sushi Bar & Asian Grill features an eye-popping outdoor garden complete with a koi fish pond and 100-year old tea houses that were imported from Vietnam. It’s really awe-inspiring, as is the food at Sapa, which ranges from sushi rolls, sashimi and such, to pho and noodle dishes, plus an outstanding selection of craft cocktails and other beverages to enjoy in the garden.

Pig & A Jelly Jar

If you’re looking for a pooch-friendly patio combined with killer Southernstyle comfort food, Pig & A Jelly Jar is the perfect place. Rib-sticking dishes like chicken & waffles, catfish & chips, BBQ pork sandwich, Nashville hot chicken, fries & gravy and the like are the main draw here, along with cold brews, wine and bubbly concoctions and beignets for dessert. Stay tuned for info on weekend Pig Parties and Pig Kitchen in Holladay, which will include outdoor eats, entertainment and more.