Tensions rise over proposed Simon Fraser University gondola – TransLink Uses RftV estimates!

Portland's aerial tramway intermediate 60 metre tower.

If Portland has one, then TransLink wants one too!, this is called the 'neat' factor.

TransLink just doesn't get it, the organization never has.

The 'consultation' process, including community meetings is a sham, with TransLink any sort of consultation process is a sham. It seems now what is happening is TransLink's 'transit geeks' want a neat looking aerial tramway, because, well golly gee whiz other people have them. Listening to TransLink's Ken Hardie on the radio, spinning his tale of wonderment with the aerial tramway and how cost effective it is, makes one wonder shy TransLink doesn't propose aerial tramways for all major bus routes. Here we have another TransLink farce in the making.

TransLink is now lowering capacity on the SFU aerial tramway to 3,000 persons per hour per direction buy planning for 19 aerial tramway cabins (hey didn't that phrase cabin come from the RftV blog?), with a capacity of 35 persons each, traveling at 40 second headways (40 second headways definitely came from the RftV blog!).

Also interesting, is that the costs for the aerial tramway seem to be rising from $70 million to $120 million – shades of the Canada Line fiasco!

Like the Canada line, it seems the main driver behind the SFU gondola is Simon Fraser University itself and not TransLink. With the Canada line it was Vancouver Airport Authority who demanded a $2.5 billion subway!

Is there a cheaper solution. like a $1000.00 solution? Could not TransLink put chains on the buses, like Seattle does, in snowy weather for the climb to SFU?

I guess chaining buses when snow is predicted is just not neat enough for TransLink and SFU, especially when Valley residents will be paying the shot for another TransLink boondoggle.


Tensions rise over proposed Simon Fraser University gondola

By Sam Cooper, The Province – May 25, 2011

http://www.theprovince.com/Tensions+rise+over+proposed+Simon+Fraser+University+gondola/4840552/story.html

At a tense town hall meeting Tuesday angry Burnaby Mountain residents accused TransLink planners of railroading a $120-million “Whistler-style freak show” gondola through several quiet neighbourhoods.

Community meetings are part of the second-phase of a feasibility study for a 2.6-kilometre tramline from Production Way-University SkyTrain Station to Simon Fraser University, a route that was deemed to have the least negative impacts of four possible routes.

At Cameron elementary school, TransLink planner Jeff Busby explained to about 50 residents that about 19 cabins would carry 3,000 people per hour up the mountain, with the benefit of reducing bus trips, greenhouse gas emissions, and operating costs.

Cabins carrying 35 people per load would leave the station every 40 seconds, carried on a tramline that would be supported by five 70-metre steel towers.

The gondola would improve service, Busby said, since bus service to the university is interrupted on average 10 days per year in slippery winter weather.

But residents from the Forest Grove neighbourhood and Pine Ridge Housing Co-Op broke into Busby’s presentation, demanding answers.

“This isn’t a consultation, you’ve already picked the route and now you say you want feedback,” Wayne MacConnel told a TransLink planner.

“It completely destroys whatever peaceful feeling of living in the forest we had when you run a Whistler-style freak show over your head every 40 seconds.”

Many residents said they believe TransLink is choosing the path of least resistance.

“My main concern is what it will do to our land value,” Forest Grove resident Karen Taylor told The Province.

“I think they will decide to push this through because we don’t have the numbers (to resist the move.)”

“I think they will build it over the low income housing because those are the people that are easiest to bully,” said Robin, a mother who lives in Pine Ridge Housing Co-Op.

“We moved here because it’s peaceful and quiet for our children, and now we’ll have this beast going over us every forty seconds. It’s horrible.”

The gondola idea is the brainchild of Gordon Harris, CEO of SFU’s Community Trust.

SFU estimated a design based on the Peak-2-Peak gondola in Whistler would cost about $70 million.

Busby said TransLink believes the cost will be twice that, and funding will be sought from three levels of government.

The gondola’s fare would be integrated into TransLink’s system with most of the riders projected to be those who live and work on the mountain, Busby said.

Busby said since TransLink’s first priority is completing the Evergreen Line, if the project was approved, 2014 would be the earliest finish date.

Busby said it’s projected “quantifiable” gondola benefits are estimated to be about four times greater than costs over 25 years.

scooper@theprovince.com

Comments

2 Responses to “Tensions rise over proposed Simon Fraser University gondola – TransLink Uses RftV estimates!”
  1. Evil Eye says:

    And Translink is going to use 70 metre towers? Good luck!

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