UTA's bus service to ski resorts will start Dec. 12

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah resorts are reporting better-than-usual skiing conditions with the recent storms, but enthusiasts who want to take part in that will have to get their own rides up the canyons.

UTA buses can typically be counted on to run regular routes throughout the day, getting dozens of boarders and skiers safely to the resorts without all the traffic on the mountain roads. But just because the season began with the prominent early snowfall, doesn't mean UTA has gassed up its resort buses just yet.

"It's a hard road on a car," said avid skier John Winter. He's not surprised, with the recent tightening down on budgets, that UTA hasn't begun its ski services.

"We don't have it in our budget to start ski service early," said UTA spokesman Gerry Carpenter. "It would cost half a million dollars to start ski services at Thanksgiving as opposed to Dec. 12."

Even if they did have the money now, they don't have the drivers.

"We have to train 80 to 100 operators to run the ski service every year and those operators are still in training," Carpenter said. "Some are still being hired."

Operators for the ski runs have to have a good record of driving a regular route before being considered for the routes in the canyons. But everything is running smoothly for a Dec. 12 ski service start for UTA this year.

Resorts typically work closely with UTA during the season, even encouraging bus ridership.

"It's good for our skiers to use a bus," said Alta's Connie Marshall, adding that the resort provides full bus fare for all season pass holders and employees who work in the town of Alta.

For now, one bus in the morning and one in the evening shuttle employees to resorts. But it won't be until Dec. 12 that folks like Winter will find buses heading up the canyon every 15 minutes during peak morning and evening hours until April.

e-mail: abutterfield@desnews.com; wleonard@desnews.com