Penang Sky Cab.
A quick look at some of the things that happened this week in the world of urban gondolas, cable cars and cable propelled transit:
Penang Skycab
Plans for an urban gondola were announced this week in Penang, Malaysia. The 3km system — estimated to cost RM 250-300 million (USD$69-83 million) — will connect Penang Sentral, a future multimodal transport hub in the town of Butterworth, to George Town on Penang island. The island is already linked via ferry and road, but the cable car will provide an alternative and more comfortable form of transit for 1,000 persons per hour in each direction. Passengers are expected to be both tourists and commuters.
POMA’s Presence in Algeria
Algerian news agency, Reporters, interviewed POMA Director Jean Souchal regarding the ropeway manufacturer’s growing presence in Algeria. The country is Africa’s leader in urban cable cars with systems in Algiers, Blida, Constantine, Oran and Tlemcen. The Franco-Algerian partnership should pave the way for more urban gondolas.
Base-to-Base Gondola (Olympic Valley, California)
First there was the world-famous Peak 2 Peak Gondola in Whistler, BC. Now, a Base-to-Base Gondola is being developed to connect the iconic mountains of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. The 1400-capacity gondola hopes to improve skiers’ experience and reduce vehicular traffic between the sites.