There is interest in some kind of government-backed shuttle linking Park City and Salt Lake City International Airport, but a route is not expected to take off for the upcoming ski season. Mayor Ryan Dickey and the Park City Council recently discussed a possible pilot program to provide a transp ortation service to the airport. The elected officials were not asked to render a decision and seemed interested in further talks. Some of the issues that would ultimately need to be addressed before a route is launched include the location of the stops and the funding mechanism. It appears Summit County leaders will also be approached. There is no direct route between Park City and the airport using public transit. Someone wanting to ride public transit in either direction would need to transfer between bus and light rail routes. There was talk of a pilot program running for 15 weeks in the winter, when traffic between Park City and the airport is the heaviest. A $15-per-person price was mentioned as a possibility. The elected officials briefly noted that the shuttle could be an affordable option, and they wanted to create a precise route Parkites would benefit from. A shuttle would be designed as a traffic-fighting measure, as Park City continues to consider how to combat congestion. A connection to the airport was identified as an option in an earlier municipal effort to craft so-called “emerging disruptors” related to transportation. That work resulted in a wide range of ambitious concepts like aerial transit and rail. “The need for this connection is well established and remains a top concern for Park City residents and visitors, as demonstrated by the high number of transportation network company … trips and the strength of the local rental-car market,” a municipal report drafted before the recent City Council meeting said. The Park City Chamber/Bureau is a key piece in the talks. Jennifer Wesselhoff, the president and CEO of the organization, explained after the recent discussion that a shuttle was forecast to cost approximately $820,000 for 15 weeks, running from mid-December until early April. Revenues were anticipated to include $150,000 in fares, $100,000 from hotel partnerships, $160,000 in allocations from Summit County restaurant taxes and $35,000 from a transportation firm providing the service. She said municipal funding would have been sought to assist. This week, Wesselhoff addressed the concept in prepared answers to a Park Record inquiry. She said a first phase of the talks showed there is enough interest from public officials and hotels to continue the discussions. A second phase will consider more detailed issues. They include, according to Wesselhoff: “Partnership strength — the business case for a private partnership versus public involvement, and how hotels, the Chamber, and fare revenue each factor in.” “Public share — if the city and/or county get involved, what share each would be asked to contribute.” “(Return on investment) and term — the expected return, how long a city/county commitment would run, what a contract needs to cover, and whether marketing or other in-kind support is part of the ask.” Wesselhoff said a next step is expected to involve issuing a request for proposals or a request for qualifications meant to tap a firm to provide the service. She said the timeline would not be short enough to launch a route for the upcoming ski season. If leaders want to move forward with a route, it would likely be a year before a launch, she said. Wesselhoff, in an earlier prepared statement, highlighted the municipal traffic-fighting discussions as she explained the benefits of a route between Park City and the airport. “The City’s Emerging Disruptor Taskforce report in 2024, specifically called out airport connection as one of the smartest ways to manage traffic. Since then, we’ve been working on this concept: a reliable, low-cost shuttle running directly between Park City and Salt Lake City International Airport, so visitors can leave the rental car behind altogether,” she said. Wesselhoff continued, “Connectivity has always been the missing piece between Salt Lake City and Park City — this closes that gap, positions us as a true car-free destination, and helps advance our goal of becoming the most sustainable destination in the world. Ultimately, it’s about reducing traffic on our roads so we can enhance the experience for both visitors and residents alike.” The post Park City considers government-backed airport shuttle appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less