A gondola, fixed-rail trolley, energy-efficient buses and traditional diesel buses are all in the running to be the area's "community connector" that would transport people from the River Run base of Bald Mountain to downtown Ketchum and Sun Valley.
The 12-member Community Connector Committee is spearheading an effort to reduce regional traffic congestion, and Co-Chairman Peter Everett said it hopes to hold public meetings for input by spring.
"We don't want to jam this down the throats of anyone," said Everett, chairman of Mountain Rides Transportation Authority.
But to move forward, he said, the committee needs to know if residents can agree that "we need some kind of innovation here."
The next question is: Which option works best?
He said the committee isn't pushing one option—it just wants to find which one garners the most support.
The group put up a Web site—www.thecommunityconnector.com—last week to provide people with information on the four options, including feasibility studies, and give their feedback.
The committee is composed of representatives from Mountain Rides Transportation Authority, Sun Valley Co., local businesses, the real estate industry, the cities of Ketchum and Sun Valley, and Blaine County. Wally Huffman, director of resort development for Sun Valley Co., co-chairs the group.
Everett said the committee will talk to 25 "key" community members, such as business owners, this month to hear their feelings.
So far, he said, the innovative approaches of a gondola or trolley have garnered the most attention.
"Some people are pretty adamant against the gondola," he said, "but some think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread."
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Regardless, both groups are concerned about paying for the undertaking.
Everett said the committee would survey residents before delving into that.
"If the reaction is, 'You're crazy to try this,' then it will be dead in the water," he said.
Feasibility studies estimate the gondola costing a little less than $30 million, and the trolley a little more than that. He said the bus systems are the cheapest, but have attracted the least enthusiasm.
Everett referred to a gondola that connects the Colorado resort town of Telluride with its ski area base.
"Boy, did that energize the town," he said. "People came to town just to ride the gondola."
But Telluride's gondola doesn't go through the middle of town—it stops at the edge.
Everett said $5 fares to ride could pay construction and operating costs, but all that is still up in the air.
"We're too far away from that right now," he said.
Every option has its pros and cons.
Everett said the gondola would be designed to meet regional transportation needs and not just for tourists. It would start at River Run, go to the Simplot lot—near the Ketchum Post Office—and then head for downtown Ketchum by way of Fourth Street. Riders could get off at the downtown terminal. The gondola would then proceed to Sun Valley Village for a 1.8-mile ride start to finish.
Everett said workers driving in from the south valley could park at River Run and ride the gondola to town. However, Everett said workers aren't going to park at River Run if on-street parking in Ketchum remains free.
Sun Valley Resort originally planned in its long-term master plan a gondola that traveled from Sun Valley Village to Dollar Mountain to River Run, skipping Ketchum altogether.
Depending on public feedback, Everett said a gondola would most likely be developed in step with the 138-acre base village that Sun Valley Resort plans to develop at River Run. Design Workshop, a consulting company hired by the resort to plan the base village, has also been hired to consult on the possible gondola. And the resort is paying that bill.
But the committee doesn't want to get too far ahead of itself. Residents and business owners will be asked to weigh all four options before the committee hones in on one.
"We're real flexible at this stage," Everett said.
Trevon Milliard: tmilliard@mtexpress.com
Community Connector Web site
The Web site www.thecommunityconnector.com has been created to disperse information on the four transportation options. A "Feedback" tab has been created to collect opinions.
This simulation shows the gondola option running through Ketchum by way of Fourth Street. Courtesy graphic
