SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has announced plans to significantly enhance bus service and develop new transportation infrastructure in Little Cottonwood Canyon (LCC) over the next two years. This initiative aims to alleviate traffic congestion and improve travel reliability during winter months. Little Cottonwood Canyon is home to two prominent Utah ski resorts, Alta and Snowbird, which attract a high volume of skiers and snowboarders. The combination of heavy traffic and the need for avalanche mitigation has made navigating LCC challenging. To address these issues, UDOT will construct a new mobility hub at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon. This hub will provide a centralized location for travelers to park and transfer to buses before heading into LCC. The plan includes a substantial increase in bus service, with buses scheduled to run every 10 to 20 minutes during peak demand periods. This change marks a significant enhancement from current service levels, aiming to provide a more reliable transit alternative to driving. To accommodate the expected rise in ridership, UDOT will also build new bus stops at Snowbird and Alta. These stops will be designed to accommodate larger crowds while improving safety and comfort for passengers during winter conditions. Additionally, UDOT is advancing plans for a tolling system intended to manage demand on the canyon road during the busiest winter days. While final details are still being developed, the toll will be electronic and activated only during periods of heavy congestion, with pricing varying based on demand. Drivers will not need to stop to pay the toll. Transportation officials believe that the combination of tolling and the elimination of winter roadside parking near resorts will help improve traffic flow and safety along the route. UDOT is addressing long-standing congestion issues that have intensified with increasing ski visitation. The agency is currently completing final design work and obtaining necessary approvals, including federal authorization for tolling. Construction on the new transit infrastructure is expected to start soon, with the goal of implementing the expanded bus service and demand-management measures within two years. The bus expansion and tolling proposal is the first phase of a broader strategy to tackle congestion in LCC, with future phases potentially including a gondola system, though its development is uncertain due to ongoing legal challenges. UDOT is also pursuing similar improvements in Big Cottonwood Canyon pending an environmental study.