As the executive director of High Valley Transit and a long-time Summit County resident, I am passionate about the critical role public transit plays in our community. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on S.R. 224 will be a cornerstone of our future, shaping how we move and grow. As Park City and Summit Count y consider their roles in funding this important project over the next few weeks, I’d like to highlight four key points: 1. BRT is essential for our workforce. Yes, residents will use BRT to attend events, and skiers will use it to reach the resorts. But our essential workforce is the primary audience for express transit. Park City’s daytime population surges by 81% daily, with 17,000 trips originating in Kimball Junction and ending in Park City — many made by the very people who sustain our mountain lifestyle.  These workers deserve the dignity of affordable, reliable, and accessible transportation. It’s not just practical; it’s the right thing to do. Maybe you’ll use BRT, maybe you won’t. But with 5,000 fewer cars on the road each day, everyone benefits from reduced congestion, easier parking, and smoother commutes — even if they never step on a BRT bus. 2. Reliability is the foundation of a transit-friendly community. A defining feature of BRT is its dedicated bus-only lanes, ensuring predictable travel times regardless of weather, events, or peak-hour traffic. Some have proposed shortening the dedicated lanes from five miles to less than three, but BRT on S.R. 224 was designed by Park City and Summit County engineers to optimize efficiency. Like many complex systems, undermining key elements of the plan would compromise its effectiveness. We understand concerns about widening S.R. 224. However, our design team has developed a solution that adds only 10 feet (the length of a surfboard) to the existing 75-foot corridor — remaining within the UDOT right of way while fully restoring landscaped medians and bike-pedestrian trails where needed. 3. If we don’t plan for the future, we’re planning for the past. Some officials suggest planning for traffic models that demonstrate a five-year outlook. But there’s a reason transportation planners design infrastructure with a 30-year vision to accommodate long-term growth. It allows for a comprehensive view of future growth, infrastructure needs and long-term mobility challenges of the community. Agencies such as the Federal Transit Administration, Federal Highway Administration, and UDOT also require 20-30-year projections when allocating funding.  Why?  Because anything less would be fiscally shortsighted. So, what does the future hold?  Park City’s General Plan projects an additional 2,000 residential units within city limits and 5,000 more daily workers commuting by 2050. The Park City Main Street Plan aims to double daily visitors from 19,500 to 39,500 to support local businesses.  We have the opportunity now to proactively decide how we address transportation.  Building BRT will cut future travel times up to 50 percent for those heading into Park city in the morning and to Kimball Junction in the evening. Investing in transit now is far more cost-effective than scrambling to catch up later. 4. Partnerships are key to transportation solutions. BRT is the result of years of collaboration between Park City, Summit County, UDOT, and the State of Utah. We’ve secured over $66 million in funding—including historic federal support for a rural community—from agencies like the FTA and USDOT. Protecting these partnerships is vital, not just for BRT on SR-224 but for future projects like SR-248. How we handle this opportunity will impact our ability to secure funding for future transit expansion. We often hear, “It’s not like it used to be.” But sometimes, responsible change is the best way to preserve what remains and what we love. At High Valley Transit, we are committed to managing growth in a way that ensures access for all while maintaining the mountain lifestyle we cherish. Caroline Rodriguez is the executive director of High Valley Transit.  The post Responsible change in transit appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less