Mt Hood, Oregon -- ODOT Safety Improvements

[Girafastyle]

I did a quick search and didn't see this listed. Sorry if I'm double posting. Full disclosure: I'm a BC skier, non sled owner--maybe some day

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The Oregon Department of Transportation is currently reviewing a winter management plan for the Mt Hood area, which includes a bunch of various projects, including Sno-Park infrastructure, winter access, road improvements, etc. as well as a private aerial tram project which will cost millions. (Note: I'm not sure how much of the funding is private vs. public, but there is definitely a large chunk of public resources earmarked for the tram project.)

In short, there are limited public funds, so ODOT is cherry picking the most popular projects to complete. In my opinion, the private tram project (very popular) will pull resources away from more beneficial projects, like road improvements and Sno-Park access.

In general, I feel that we all should have equal access rights to our national forests and that they should stay public, not privatized through longterm concession leases or over built for the benefit of a single user group. I do believe in mitigated use boundaries for motorized access, as long as it is fair to all users, and to me supporting a private project costing millions, to benefit ticket holders of the ski resort seems like a waste of public resources. (The area for the tram is not open to sledding. That said, the project sets a bad precedent for future public access.)

In my opinion, the best use of funds would be to improve existing Sno-Parks, as well as spread out access points, to avoid use conflicts caused by overcrowding.

Below are a few relevant links:

Mt Hood Transportation Plan (aerial tram is part of a larger plan): http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION1/pages/MHMTP.aspx

Mt Hood Transportation Plan public comment survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZY5D69L

Full list of proposed projects here: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION1/MHMTP/MHMTP_Implementation_Framework_Memo_Matrix_080613.pdf

 

[Twostroke]

I hear what your saying, and it's sound logic but don't expect to hear much from the sledders. I feel like the sledders that ride hood are more of maybe the once a month crowd and not the die-hards that you will meet way out in the "backcountry" on any given day. so I think they will be much less vocal. The riding there is extremely limited, and it's trail riding, so to put it in perspective that'd be like a bc skier enjoying waiting in a lift line. With that being said your going to get way more in favor for the tram, and if it does go in it will bring more to the local area then sno parks ever could IMO. Sorry, im sure that's not what you wanted to hear.