Gondola to SFU?

[tonyzoomzoom]

I know anything about the viability of using a gondola as day-to-day transportation.  But personally, I wouldn't ride a gondola to as a part of my way to work (or school in this case)...

http://www.vancouversun.com/TransLink+considers+aerial+gondola/3563211/story.html

METRO VANCOUVER - TransLink is considering a proposal for an aerial gondola to Simon Fraser University, saying such a move would free up buses, save costs and potentially whisk 3,000 people an hour up the mountain.
The transit authority has issued a request for proposals for the gondola, which has been pitched by the SFU Community Trust.
TransLink spokesman Ken Hardie said the transit authority decided to consider the proposal based on the success of Whistler's Peak 2 Peak gondola.
It's still early stages, he said, but a proposed gondola would likely run from Production Way Station on the Millennium Line to SFU, making the trip in just eight minutes — four to six minutes less than a typical bus ride up the mountain. Hardie said a gondola would also be more reliable because it wouldn't be affected by snow and rain, which can clog up the roads and tie up buses.
Such a move would also free up buses for other areas of the region, Hardie said. If TransLink were to move 3,000 people up the mountain now, he said, it would need about 25 to 30 buses.
"This could be a green alternative," he said. "What we really need to do is have a very serious look at the concept to see if there is a business plan for it."
Hardie had no specifics on the cost or alignment of such a proposal, saying that would come out in the RFPs, which are expected to come back by March next year.

[disqx]

Prepare to be shocked:

Hardie had no specifics on the cost or alignment of such a proposal, saying that would come out in the RFPs, which are expected to come back by March next year.

[LChemist]

They've been talking about this since the Olympics, but nothing has been done...

[DKaz]

I think for a couple of years now. I think this project would be an excellent P3 candidate since Translink doesn't have any money to do anything these days, especially after they fork over $400 mil for their portion of the Evergreen Line and $600 mil for the new Patullo Bridge.

This is just a RFP right now, come March they will see if it makes business sense to go ahead. I hope it does.

[serpico007]

Sure sounds nice but seriously this is where the money goes? They can't afford one bus for my busy retail / business / residence area in Morgan Heights from 152nd Street down 24th Ave, but can build a gondola for SFU?! 2 years the bus stops sit empty now.

[DKaz]

As I said, it should be a P3 project where Translink just has to put a downpayment and pay back sort of a mortgage. That's what they're doing at Golden Ears, I think the downpayment was about $150 mil or something for the $800 mil bridge.

[Heavenclosed]

I don't see this happening.  They have gondolas in Switzerland for access to towns and villages in the mountains.  But they are mostly for tourists.  The locals tend to prefer roads.

They should try a Funicular Train up the mountain.  That might be a better idea.

[denis]

The tree huggers will complain about the trees getting cut down though...unless you mean on the road...but then theres no point since it would take as long as a bus, if not longer.

Gondola still seems like the best idea, if it's fast enough of course.

[DKaz]

A Funicular has been discussed as well but I think the Gondola ended up being more feasible. The Gondola would be about 4 to 6 minutes faster than the bus ride.

[zoomerboomer]

I think you guys just like saying funicular!  Isn't that right?    Gondolas aren't so good in windy conditions!

[denis]

Gondolas aren't so good in windy conditions!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_2_Peak_Gondola#Safety_systems
Wind rarely goes over 80km/h..and they can always just do buses if it gets that high anyway, its not like the buses are going to be banned on Gaglardi way (The road up to SFU) just because theres a gondola

[zoomerboomer]

Depends on the gondola size and design.

[serpico007]

They may limit the buses though like they did for South Surrey when the Canada Line went in. It was faster with the bus going straight to downtown in 45 minutes for my wife, now she gets off at Bridgeport and it take over an hour now. Coming back home is worse if you don't leave right at 5pm.

[Username]

I'm all for it. Less cars on the road mean I will be happier. This seems like a great option for students as well. If I were going to SFU I would definitely ride it. Especially considering how hazardous the roads up and down SFU can be during winter.

  Kev

[Smiley2010]

I'm all for it. Less cars on the road mean I will be happier. This seems like a great option for students as well. If I were going to SFU I would definitely ride it. Especially considering how hazardous the roads up and down SFU can be during winter.

  Kev

Agreed.  Winter months can get ridiculous with the pile up of buses and all of the extended ones jack knifing on the roads.  Its pretty bad not to mention dangerous.  With that said...  In over 10 years of going to SFU, I've never been stuck on the hill when I drove my cars (never a 4x4).  Whether you have winters or not (I never did) all you gotta do is drive slow, its not that bad as long as you're taking it slow.  I've seen ppl get stuck trying to go up the mountain during REALLY heavy snow storms but coming down is fine.

As for the 70mil bill and the viability of it...  It sounds like it will be slightly faster than the buses and 70mil for Translink is nothing!  I remember last year they were sitting on a 600mil surplus that I'm assuming they were saving for the Evergreen line.  Compared to some of the other major routes they've got SFU route is something they needed to improve on anyways.  I'm sure if you've taken classes at SFU after the Production Skytrain Station was put in you can attest to some crazy lines during the peak times.  Its not uncommon to see buses broken down on Gaglardi and causing even more issues at regular intervals as well.  I say go put the damn gondola in and make everyone's life easier!

For me though, as long as I work in my department I'm gonna park in Convomall since I work in MBC.  No way I am not driving my baby to work!

As for the surplus buses they'll have from the Production/SFU route, UBC can have it as a hand me down those poor sods on the 99 Bline can Definately use it!

[serpico007]

I think the $600 million is what they wanted but got $150 million instead. That was back in January. That's why I didn't get the bus system.

[Golddragoner]

The first thing they need to do is make the transit system better in Langley/Surrey. Why the hell would I take a 1 hour bus ride when I can drive there in 10 mins? That seems pointless and probably ends up producing more emissions.

[missmiel]

This project, as stated above, would be a PPP.  There would be minimal contribution from Translink (and probably some from SFU).  Most of the money would be funded from a private company, with the government/sfu having a contract to pay back the private company for a set amount of years.  One of the key reasons for considering a gondola is the snow.  Rumour has it that there would be a gondola and no busses going up.  I have heard it would be the same type of gondola as what they have at Whistler (Peak-to-Peak).  I can't imagine that it wouldn't be run on intervals with at least a couple gondolas going each way.  Obviously details would be worked out in the RFP once at that stage and Translink & SFU would consider the most viable option.  They can't please everyone, but wouldn't it be better to make things easier?  If i went to SFU and I had issues getting to class, I'd be p*ssed and WANT something like this.

PS, the gov't and city mayors just signed an agreement to sit down and figure out where to find money for the evergreen line.