A gondola may be part of the recipe for the future of the Brew Pub parking lot.The ground toward the southern end of the commercial section of Main Street has long been seen as possibly someday becoming a key should the community pursue an aerial transit system. The location steps from the shopping, dining and entertainment strip is desirable and the parcel is considered, at least conceptually, to be suitable for a gondola terminal.A committee seated by Park City leaders is continuing to consider the future of the Main Street core as the commercial district attempts to remain competitive. The committee has discussed wide-ranging ideas for Main Street itself and nearby land.The draft minutes of a meeting in early September indicate the committee spent time on the concept of a gondola during a discussion that also covered numerous other issues. The discussion by the Main Street Area Plan Committee about a gondola occurred as broader talks in the community are ongoing about whether to pursue aerial transit as a traffic-fighting measure.According to the draft minutes of a Sept. 9 meeting, a design team provided information about options for a gondola route connecting the Main Street core with Deer Valley Resort. Two locations for a Main Street-area terminus were outlined — the Brew Pub lot and the Sandridge parking lot off Marsac Avenue.The draft minutes indicate the “committee expressed strong, unanimous support” for the Brew Pub lot option. The route “would create a more direct connection with Main Street,” the draft minutes say. They explain, though, the route “would also pass over a few homes” and it would “be necessary to secure air rights from these homes.”The draft minutes addresses the Sandridge lot, as well, saying the location would “remove the need for the gondola to pass directly over homes.”“However, it would provide a less direct connection to Main Street,” the draft minutes describe, adding that a stairway at the location “would not offer sufficient capacity” and “there is likely insufficient space to provide an (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant connection to Main Street without demolishing homes.”The draft minutes say it is possible to create a pedestrian connection between Sandridge and Swede Alley “around houses,” but people using such a route “would need to walk roughly 1,100 feet to reach Main Street.”The committee requested a concept be developed. Mayor Nann Worel “emphasized that she would not support a concept that involves condemning property,” the draft minutes indicate.The Main Street Area Plan Committee discussion about the possibility of a gondola route was held at a time when there is interest in aerial transit in some circles even if it is not clear whether the concepts will advance. Aerial transit, the thinking goes, could reduce traffic in Park City by nudging drivers to park in outlying locations and then board a gondola system to reach destinations like the Main Street core and the mountain resorts.The concept of a Park City aerial transit system dates to at least the late 1990s, but there has been limited progress toward creating one. Questions about routes and funding strategies have over the years appeared to be barriers. An aerial transit system linking destinations like the Main Street core, the mountain resorts and satellite parking would almost certainly be priced well into the tens of millions of dollars. A funding strategy should a system be pursued could include tapping any transportation-related monies that may become available as the state prepares for the 2034 Winter Olympics.The Main Street Area Plan Committee received conceptual information about the potential development of the Brew Pub lot with a sledding hill, an area for ice skating, parking underground, restrooms and unspecified other amenities. A gondola station was also mentioned there.“Committee members asked the design team to prioritize the gondola station concept over the skating rink, if there is a need to choose between them. They emphasized that a gondola is a ‘family amenity’ that offers recreation value: ‘People love riding the gondola,’” the draft minutes say.Talks with a wider audience of Parkites would almost certainly be held prior to City Hall moving ahead with any formal effort to develop aerial transit. Discussions with the mountain resorts would be needed, as would talks with state transportation officials if any routes involve roads under the jurisdiction of the Utah Department of Transportation.The draft minutes allude to the discussions eventually encompassing locations outside the Main Street core.“Committee members expressed that it was strange to focus on the gondola connection to Deer Valley without addressing how a gondola — or another transit solution — could connect to Route 248 and to a potential park ‘n’ ride. The design team noted that Park City staff are pursuing these options in other, simultaneous studies. Nonetheless, committee members emphasized that the Main Street proposals would be stronger if combined with a complete transportation plan,” they say.The Main Street Area Plan Committee has not finalized recommendations and in November is expected to discuss the work with the mayor and Park City Council, as well as hold a public-input session.The post Park City may include gondola to Deer Valley in recipe for Brew Pub lot appeared first on Park Record.