It is time to transform the Richardson Flat park and ride into the best free ski transportation hub in the world. This means making it super easy to access and a pleasant experience, ultimately reducing traffic and boosting our town. Here’s a vision for improvements:
- Solve Traffic Nightmare: Park City’s seasonal traffic is a major headache for visitors, workers and locals. A top-notch park and ride will encourage people to park outside town. This means faster travel, less stress, cleaner air and a nicer environment.
- Wow Visitors: The park and ride will be the first and last thing many visitors see. A great facility with amazing amenities will create a fantastic impression and make their ski day smoother and more enjoyable. Free parking, quick buses and comfy amenities will make it the obvious choice.
- Be Green: Getting more people on buses (and possibly aerial transportation and/or rail) instead of driving individual cars cuts down on pollution.
- Help the Economy: Easy transportation can make Park City even more attractive to tourists, bringing in more money. Less traffic also helps people get to shops and restaurants around town. Plus, running the new hub will create local jobs.
- Improve Life for Residents: Workers will have a less stressful and cheaper way to commute. Less tourist and commuter traffic also means easier errands for everyone living in Park City. Keeping traffic under control helps maintain the town’s charm.
- Be a Leader: Show that Park City is serious about smart and sustainable tourism. It will be a great way to market our town.
- Plan for the Future: Investing in good transportation now will help Park City handle more visitors and growth. Development is exploding outside of town, and the Olympics are coming. We need to be ready.
What’s not working:
- Tricky to Get To: You simply can’t get there directly from S.R. 40. You have to take local roads, which can be confusing, especially for out-of-towners. Plus, going south on 248 and then turning left is literally going backward. Try explaining to a first-time visitor how to get to the Richardson Flat lot.
- Bare Bones: It’s a barren, windswept parking lot. There’s no comfortable indoor waiting area, decent bathrooms or anything like coffee, lockers or changing rooms. Many people feel it’s unsafe with reports of car break-ins. It lacks any appeal beyond just parking.
- Bus Issues: It’s improving, but needs to get better with more direct, non-stop buses.
Phase 1 (Years 1-2):
- Direct Highway Exit: Build an interchange on S.R. 40 to and from the parking lot.
- Clear Signs Everywhere: Put up big, easy-to-read signage on I-80 and S.R. 40, starting miles away, guiding drivers right to the Richardson Flat exit and the park and ride. Include digital signs with parking and bus info, and emphasize it is free.
Phase 2 (Years 2-3):
- The Powder Hound Lounge: Build a high-quality indoor center (like a nice airport lounge) with comfy seating, clean bathrooms, free coffee, hot chocolate and donuts in the morning, water, Wi-Fi, info screens with bus times and resort info, a staffed help desk, luggage storage, changing rooms, and even EV charging stations. Add a big fireplace for a cozy feel.
- Fast, Direct Buses: Run frequent, non-stop buses to the main bases of Park City Mountain Resort (every 10 minutes peak) and Deer Valley (every 15-20 minutes peak). The buses will be modern, comfortable, with ski/snowboard storage and Wi-Fi, with real-time tracking on an app.
Phase 3 (Ongoing):
- Always Free Parking: Keep parking free and make sure everyone knows it.
- Get the Word Out: Use online ads, work with hotels and resorts, get media coverage, and put up great signs to promote the improved park and ride.
- Create a Fun Vibe: The Powder Hound Lounge must be cool. Create designated covered areas for après ski tailgating with picnic tables, and look into having food trucks and even local musicians play on the weekends.
- Make it Safe: Have 24/7 security guards, bright lighting, security cameras, and emergency call boxes.
- Keep Improving: Get feedback from users and make changes to keep making it better.
- Additional Modes of Transportation: Study and pursue other means of transportation, including aerial and rail.
What to Expect:
- Way less traffic around town.
- Happier visitors with a smoother travel experience.
- More people using public transport.
- A boost to Park City’s reputation and economy.
- A greener, more sustainable town.
- A better quality of life for residents.
- A safe and secure place to park and ride.
Challenges?
- Land Ownership: Park City doesn’t own the land, but the city does have a long term lease. Ownership would be nice, but it isn’t necessary. Cities, counties and states lease land and space all the time.
- Soil Contamination: Yes, there’s some soil contamination, likely making big improvements harder and more expensive.
- Other Locations: Yes, the city does own other property, including the Gordo property. However, Gordo development will not alleviate daily traffic jams inbound and outbound on S.R. 248 in front of the hospital.
- Cost: Park City will need to employ a multifaceted funding strategy. Deer Valley Resort is committing $15 million toward a new transportation facility in Park City as part of a public-private partnership. This contribution is in exchange for a right-of-way easement for their Snow Park project and a reduction in day skier parking. In addition to the $15 million from Deer Valley Resort, Park City also can pursue a variety of other funding sources and partnerships. Here’s a breakdown of potential avenues:
Public Funding:
- Federal Grants: The U.S. Department of Transportation offers numerous grant programs that could support various aspects of the project.
- State Funding: Partnering with the Utah Department of Transportation will be crucial. UDOT may have dedicated funds for transit infrastructure, highway improvements (the interchange), and projects that alleviate congestion and improve air quality. They could be a key partner in the interchange’s design and construction. Also, $140 million has been allocated by the state from taxpayer funds for 2034 Olympic venue renovations.
- Local Funding: A portion of Park City’s general tax revenue could be allocated to this high-priority project, highlighting its benefits to the community and economy. Park City or Summit County could also consider dedicated transportation sales taxes or other local revenue streams that could be tapped.
Public-Private Partnerships:
- Powder Hound Lounge Development and Operation: A private company specializing in airport lounges or hospitality could be contracted to design, build, and even operate the amenity center. This could bring private capital and expertise, potentially reducing the city’s upfront investment and operational burden. Revenue sharing models could be explored.
- EV Charging Infrastructure: Partnering with an EV charging network provider could offset the costs of installing and maintaining the charging stations. The provider could operate the stations and collect user fees (though the plan specifies free parking, the charging itself could have a fee).
- Retail and Food Concessions: Leasing space within the Powder Hound Lounge to coffee shops, doughnut vendors or other retailers could generate revenue to offset operational costs.
- Other Benefits: Adjacent land owned by the private sector and Park City could be considered for smart development that will benefit our town, including affordable housing.
Revenue Generation:
- Advertising: Selling advertising space within the Powder Hound Lounge, on buses, and around the park and ride.
- Sponsorships: Partnering with local businesses, resorts, or outdoor gear companies for sponsorships. Naming rights for the Powder Hound Lounge could be explored.
- Data Monetization (Anonymized): Anonymized data on usage patterns could potentially be valuable to local businesses.
Strategic Considerations:
- Phased Approach: Funding could be secured and allocated in phases, aligning with the project’s development timeline.
- Dedicated Funding Stream: Establishing a dedicated funding stream specifically for the Richardson Flat Transit Hub will be crucial for long-term sustainability.
- Collaboration and Partnerships: Strong partnerships with UDOT, federal agencies, private sector entities, and the local community will be essential for leveraging diverse funding sources.
- Demonstrating ROI: Clearly articulating the economic, environmental and social benefits of the enhanced park and ride and Powder Hound Lounge will be key to securing funding from various sources. Quantifying the reduction in congestion, increase in transit ridership, and positive impact on visitor experience will be important.
By strategically pursuing a combination of funding options, Park City can secure the necessary resources to build the world’s best park and ride and realize its vision for a more accessible and sustainable future. Let’s go big, Park City!
David Houck
Park City