BURNABY(NEWS1130) - A local politician is looking for your feedback about
TransLink's proposed
gondola project at SFU.
Up to 4,000 people an hour would be travelling over homes in the Forest
Grove neighbourhood if the $120 million TransLink proposal is approved.
"It's something that I want more information on, so I've decided to
launch my own consultation process in Burnaby-Douglas; the affected area
around the proposed gondola route," explains Burnaby-Douglas MP
Kennedy Stewart.
Around 5,000 households will be receiving surveys and phone calls.
"Often for these projects, where currently there's no federal money involved... I think it's responsible to try to get ahead of these issues because I suspect there will be federal money involved at some point and I'd like to have a clear position on the issue when it comes forward."
Some people in the area fear a loss of privacy. "At a height of 160 feet, gondola riders would be able to see through our windows and into our skylights and private rooftop terraces," says Chris Rarinca.
If you live in Forest Grove, Stewart says the surveys should be arriving on your doorstep soon with the phone calls to follow.
Stewart feels the project has a lot of merits and if they can find a workable solution, this might actually save TransLink some money. "It replaces a large number of diesel buses, it's faster for students but the main thing that comes up is how the gondola affects people in Forest Grove."
Stewart is hoping to presenting his findings at a couple of public meetings in about six weeks.
Gondola system quick facts:
- TransLink says it needs to consider this project, as SFU's population is
expected to steadily increase in the next 20 years
- The 30 to 35 person gondola cabins would carry 3,000 more people per hour up
the mountain
- Gondola cabins would run every 40 seconds
- The system would eliminate weather-related bus cancellations, which happen
about 10 days a year
- The system would eliminate 35,000 hours of diesel bus operation
- The recommended route would have the gondola station located at Production
Way SkyTrain station
- It would be the only commuting gondola in Canada, but similar to one in
Portland, Oregon