Gillig, one of the largest U.S. bus manufacturers, has received a noticeable $44.2 million contract for 44 electric buses and related charging infrastructure.
Courtesy of the High Valley Transit District
A fleet of nine minivans are set to hit the streets in the Snyderville Basin at 10 a.m. Monday, the first time Summit County’s new High Valley Transit District will offer rides to members of the public.
The minivans are part of a microtransit service officials call “Micro” that will allow users to hail on-demand rides using an app, similar to ridesharing services like Uber or Lyft, but without the cost. The app launched this week and can be found in app stores by searching High Valley Transit and selecting the option with a purple logo featuring illustrated mountains and the moon.
It ain’t broke, so don’t fix it
Oh, the irony! Our mayor expects an incredibly busy summer. Basin Rec struggles with parking capacity at popular trailheads. More cars! More people! What to do? I know what: On July 1, let’s discontinue the 7 Pink bus going through Silver Springs, a highly popular fixed bus route used regularly by residents for many, many years. As pointed out by Sarah Altshuler in her April 7 letter to the editor, the “microtransit” option is not an equivalent substitute for our 7 Pink fixed route through Silver Springs.
We Pink bus riders rejoiced when we won this battle in September 2020 after Park City Transit asked for input regarding the elimination of the Pink route through Silver Springs. Why did High Valley Transit completely disregard the wishes of the people, despite overwhelming support for continuing the route through Silver Springs? They need to tell us.
City must manage growth
For 21 years I have been a full-time resident of Park City and my concern for its viability grows. As we endure another power outage in Park Meadows of over 16 hours, I ponder the impact of all the proposed development in Park City proper. Between the PCMR parking lot project, Deer Valley village development, the arts district proposal and the school district’s long-range expansion within Park City limits, I fear we soon may look like midtown Manhattan.
It is time for someone in the city government to stand up and STOP all of this unsustainable growth. Where will we get the water, sewage treatment, police, fire, city services, broadband capacity and green power? How will we stop the gridlock that will result from all this expansion? Park City residents are already indebted for over $400 million!
Courtesy of the High Valley Transit District
High Valley Transit, the nascent district set to take over Summit County’s transit operations in two months, recently started spending cash in a big way, inking deals with a consultant to run the operation and instructing staffers to secure the vehicles that will soon shuttle passengers around the Snyderville Basin.
Officials agreed to spend nearly $900,000 for two buses and agreed to a master services agreement and other deals with River North Transit LLC, the subsidiary of Via Transportation that will run services here.
Kim Carson, High Valley Transit’s board president, said the contracts and vehicle purchases are exciting first steps for the district.