FirstGroup has been awarded a contract to operate the IFS London Cable Car, which runs from Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Docks. The contract was awarded by Transport for London (TfL) for a start in June 2024 and will initially span five years, with the ability to extend for an additional three years. FirstGroup anticipates about £60 million of total revenue over the eight-year period and plans to support TfL by promoting the cable car as a leader in London’s leisure market. The Group also plans to improve service and create educational outreach during the contract.
Banff to Norquay gondola plan thwarted by Parks Canada. Parks Canada turned down the plan and noted that they had already turned it down twice, in 2020 and in 2022, due to non-conformance with key park policy and legislation. The gondola’s proponent argues against Parks Canada’s claims of multiple submittals, saying that they have not submitted twice on this project and that Parks Canada is referring to a different gondola alignment. The proponent expressed that this project would reduce vehicle congestion in Banff, while opponents say that the increased human presence due to the gondola would have a negative impact on wildlife in the area.
Los Angeles City Council approves a $500,000 traffic study, which could delay City approvals for the proposed aerial gondola. The traffic study focuses on Dodger Stadium transportation, and the City will not take any action on permitting, land use, and general plan changes for the aerial gondola project until after the study is complete. Developers for the Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit can continue to process issues with City staff, as the study does not suspend all work related to the project. SCJ Alliance, the parent company of the gondola project, is retained for gondola expertise on this project. See a related Weekly Roundup here.
Image credits to The wub, (CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED) via Wikimedia Commons.