SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Utah, Feb. 18, 2015—The Mountain Accord blueprint, which proposes to connect ski areas and other major recreation and economic centers via a multi-modal mountain transportation system in Utah's Central Wasatch, is available for public comment through March 16. The Accord could have broad and varied impacts on the Wasatch resorts.

SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Utah, Feb. 18, 2015—The Mountain Accord blueprint, which proposes to connect ski areas and other major recreation and economic centers via a multi-modal mountain transportation system in Utah's Central Wasatch, is available for public comment through March 16. The Accord could have broad and varied impacts on the Wasatch resorts.

Formed in January 2014, Mountain Accord is a collaboration of more than 20 public and private organizations and nearly 200 stakeholders, including the U.S. Forest Service, Salt Lake City, Save Our Canyons, and Ski Utah. The stakeholders are working to develop long-term solutions to transportation, environment stewardship, the economy, and future recreation.

The blueprint proposes to reduce reliance on automobiles and decrease impacts on the environment by adding transit connections, an enhanced regional trail network, more developed economic centers, and expanded environmental protection areas. New transit options include everything from train service between the Salt Lake City Airport and the Wasatch resorts to year-round, all-weather express bus service and expansion of existing bus operations.

Bob Wheaton, president and general manager of Deer Valley, has seen similar efforts arise in his 36 years in Utah, but said this is the most comprehensive effort. “This is the first time when everybody's come together and had an opportunity to put their cards on the table with their views and their desires and also listen to others,” he said.

David Fields, vice president of resort operations at Snowbird, said he is optimistic about the Mountain Accord. “Creating a well-planned, long lasting transportation solution for Little Cottonwood Canyon and the Central Wasatch is as necessary as it is overdue,” Fields said. “There is a finite amount of room available for vehicle traffic up Little Cottonwood Canyon, and we are seeing this space has become increasingly more congested.”

Also included in the blueprint are land exchanges between ski areas and the Forest Service, in which resorts would trade private land for public at a 4:1 or 5:1 ratio. Resorts would receive land for base-area management and future development.

Local conservationists remain uneasy about giving up public land, but many recognize that making concessions may be the best tactic in their long-term conservation efforts.

The proposed blueprint does not address ski lift connections, as the One Wasatch proposal suggested when it was introduced by Ski Utah in 2014. One Wasatch would connect all seven Wasatch Front ski resorts with ski lifts or gondolas. “Even though it's not something on the blueprint, it's still something that's on the table, at least in my mind,” Wheaton said.

After considering public input received by March 16 on the proposed blueprint, phase one will culminate with the Executive Board's decision on a final blueprint on April 6. Phase two of the program will include necessary studies and approval processes, such as environmental impact statements (EIS) and is expected to last a minimum of two years.

Find the Mountain Accord Blueprint at this link: http://mountainaccord.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Mountain-Accord-Proposed-Blueprintt.pdf

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