A gondola proposed to carry passengers up Burnaby Mountain to Simon Fraser University (SFU) would cost $156 million to build and operate for 25 years, compared with $144 million to expand and maintain diesel bus service, according to a report by consultants CH2M Hill released January 11.
“It looks pretty reasonable,” local transportation expert Gordon Price told Business in Vancouver, after the report was released. “Certainly it’s doable.
From a variety of points of view it makes sense, but it’s not on the priority list for TransLink at the regional level any time soon.”
Price believes that TransLink’s priorities, after Evergreen Line construction starts later this year, will be rapid transit in Surrey and then likely an extension of the Millennium Line through the Broadway corridor. The next priority would likely be to improve bus service.
He believes the gondola proposal makes sense, however, and that at some point in the next 10 years believes TransLink mayors council may seriously consider whether it would be more cost effective than pouring money into more diesel buses.
“My guess is that there will have to be a decision on the gondola to be included as a justifiable expenditure sometime in the next five to 10 years,” Price said.
“I don’t know if they’ve even factored in the cost of delays in snow, the pass-bys [of potential riders left at stops when buses are full] and the sheer inconvenience for students.”
Glen Korstrom
@Glen Korstrom