Uncategorized « The Gondola Project

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11
Nov

2022

Weekly Roundup: Base to Base Gondola opening!

Snowbird’s second tram cabin is almost ready after an installation accident during the summer. When installation began, one of the two cabins was dropped, requiring it to be replaced and causing a project delay. The new cabin has been installed, and final installation requirements are anticipated to be done this weekend. With both cabins now on the line, crews are working on getting the tram open by November 30. See a related Weekly Roundup here.

The Base to Base Gondola is expected to open November 22. The 2.4-mile system will ascend 3,105 feet to connect two ski areas, Alpine Meadows and Palisades Tahoe. This will be the first gondola to utilize fully automated cabin parking. This means that with the push of a button, it will take 20 minutes to store 96 cabins. See a related Weekly Roundup here.

Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) released over 13,000 comments over the Little Cottonwood Canyon Gondola. After UDOT announced the gondola to be the preferred alternative, there was a 45-day public comment period, which generated 13,443 comments. UDOT is currently reviewing the comments to finalize the project. UDOT still needs to find funding for the project, so there is a phased plan to mitigate traffic until funding is secured. See a related Weekly Roundup here.

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09
Sep

2022

Weekly Roundup: Doppelmayr has just released the new TRI-Line gondola

Doppelmayr TRI-Line Talstation, Photo Rendering by Doppelmayr

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) announced their preferred transit alternative is the gondola for Little Cottonwood Canyon. 3S gondolas, also known as tricable detachable gondola (TDG), are highly reliable because they can handle harsher weather conditions. A 3S has two track ropes with the sole purpose of stabilizing the cabins and one propulsion cable. It’s estimated the gondola will ease congestion on the canyon by 30%, but critics accurately say the system will primarily benefit Alta and Snowbird skiers. The largest user group causing congestion throughout the canyon are resort skiers and the gondola is only intended to operate during the wintertime. It will take up to three years to install the gondola, which will be the world’s longest, and in the meantime other temporary traffic measures will be used to reduce congestion. UDOT is taking public comments on the gondola proposal until October 17. See a related Weekly Roundup here.
Doppelmayr has just released the new TRI-Line gondola. The TRI-Line is an innovative combination of the 3S and D-Line model, the latest model of Doppelmayr’s monocable detachable gondola (MDG). The major benefits of the TRI-Line are compact stations similar to the D-Line and a high capacity of moving up to 8,000 people per hour per direction. We will have more details about this new technology soon, stay tuned.
London’s cable car is to be rebranded as IFS Cloud Cable Car in October. Transport for London (Tfl) has announced a two year sponsorship deal with the technology company, IFS. IFS is a fast growing global technology company that will be completely rebranding the cabins and stations. The cable car had approximately 1.5 million passengers in the year leading up to July 2022. See a related Weekly Roundup here.
The Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit (LA ART) development company donated the Dodger Stadium gondola project to Climate Resolve. The gondola project was proposed in 2018 by LA ART, led by the former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The vision is to build a 3S gondola that will move people between Union Station and the Dodgers Stadium with two intermediate stations. Climate Resolve is an environmental nonprofit that focuses on combating the impacts of climate change. LA ART will continue to fund the entitlement phase of the project with Climate Resolve responsible for shepherding the project through the entitlement process, assembling the funding package, and managing the construction phase. See a related Weekly Roundup here. SCJ Alliance is part of this project.

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29
Jul

2022

Weekly Roundup: Dursey Island Cable Car to reopen in November

Dursey Island Cable Car, Photo on Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Dursey Island Cable Car in Ireland will reopen in November after replacing two support towers. The funitel system was originally shut down at the end of March, which cut off all access to the island. While the system’s shutdown was originally intended to be permanent, funds to replace it with a ferry system fell through. This, coupled with a lack of agreement with Rural Affairs, resulted in the decision to repair the funitel. A temporary ferry system instituted in June has been extended until the cable car reopens. Check out a related Weekly Roundup here.
Plans to open Malaysia’s largest indoor entertainment hub, Tropicana Windcity, include a cable car. This hub at Genting Highlands will be made up of three developments, Tropicana Grandhill, Tropicana Paradise, and Tropicana Avalon, with plans for restaurants, rides, an aquarium, and greenery in between. The article shows artist impressions of the park and a gondola to carry guests from end to end.
IKN Nusantara, Indonesia assesses the use of urban cableways for tourism and transportation. The city’s decision to include a cableway was driven by the topography of the area and desire for access to a panoramic view of the city. It was noted that the government is also planning a cable car as a part of the master plan and urban transportation system in the city.

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01
Jul

2022

Weekly Roundup: Colorado’s Steamboat Resort Prepares for the Wild Blue Gondola!

Going up the mountain — Steamboat Ski Resort Gondola (Photo by Jeffery Beal on Flickr)(CC BY-SA 2.0)

Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) will receive a federal grant to help fund a transit study. The study is set to investigate a new corridor known as NEXTransit, which will connect Oakland’s neighborhoods to its universities and hospitals. The study will look into several transit options that will integrate into the existing bus and light rail systems. For the steep slope portion of the proposed corridor the study will evaluate the feasibility of a gondola or funicular. PRT estimated the study to cost $825,000 and was awarded $594,000 from the grant which will require PRT to find additional funding or modify the study’s scope.
The thousands of public comments received on the Little Cottonwood Canyon Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has pushed Utah Department of Transportation’s (UDOT) schedule to present the final EIS. UDOT’s final EIS is scheduled to be released this summer announcing their preferred alternative. UDOT is still reviewing and responding to public comments which has extended the project schedule. While some residents are opposed to the gondola and want to protect the canyon, others are in favor and argue that the gondola will increase safety and capacity year-around while also improving air quality. See a related Weekly Roundup here.
Steamboat Resort prepares the site for the Wild Blue Gondola in Colorado. The project is broken into two parts. The first leg of the gondola will open for the 2022-2023 winter season, connecting Steamboat Square and Greenhorn Ranch. The five-minute ride will increase uphill capacity from 6,000 to 10,000 people per hour (pph). The second leg’s alignment is currently getting trees cleared with helicopters. When completed, the Wild Blue Gondola will span 3.16 miles in 13 minutes, making it the longest and fastest 10-person gondola in North America.

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17
Jun

2022

Weekly Roundup: Sugarloaf Mountain Announces Zipline Addition

Sugar Loaf Cable Car - Bondinho Pão de Açúcar — Sugarloaf Mountain Cable Car (Photo on Flickr, by LASZLO ILYES)(CC BY 2.0)

The proposed cable car in Ucka, Croatia will be the longest system in Europe. Currently the project is awaiting the construction permit which should be obtained by the end of this year. The aerial tram will span 4696 meters and rise 1310 meters with five towers. Each cabin will have the capacity to hold up to 60 people which will move 310 passengers per hour. The feasibility study estimates about 320,000 visitors per year. The system is expected to begin operating in the next five years.
A multistage Gondola and other new lifts are part of Solitude Mountain Resort 5 year plan. The gondola will connect Moonbeam base area to the Roundhouse Lodge and then up to the top of the Powderhorn. The system will increase capacity and facilitate the connection to the top of the Powderhorn where the wedding venue is located. They are also planning on replacing the Eagle Express with a high speed quad in 2023. The Utah resort has several other projects planned for their 5 year plan, such as optimizing the base area, snowmaking, and more.
Mount Bellenden Ker tower and cable car in Queensland, Australia celebrate 50 years of operation. The bicable system is not for tourists but rather serves as transportation for the workers who broadcast from the top of Mount Bellenden Ker. This 1,597-meter-tall mountain is the wettest place in Australia and receives more than 8 meters of rain a year, which requires careful maintenance against rust on the cableway. The system was built by hand in the early 1970s where each of the 21 tower foundations were dug by shovel.
Beyond Skyway in the Katoomba Gorge near Sydney, Australia adds the ability for tourists to climb onto the top of the cabin for a 360-degree view of the area. While the cableway has been a part of the park since the 50’s, the scenic trek is a new addition. It is open for just a few hours before and after sunset for tourists to harness in and see Katoomba Falls, Three Sisters, Mt. Solitary and the Jamison Valley from the rooftop.
Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain) Cable Car, located near Rio de Janeiro, has announced a zipline addition as a part of its 110^th anniversary. The zipline will connect Sugarloaf Mountain to Morro da Urca with four 755 meters lines. Riders will reach speeds of 100 km/h on the 40-50 second ride down the mountain. The attraction is currently pending approval but is anticipated to open in November.

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06
May

2022

Weekly Roundup: Winter Park Resort Master Plan Includes Three-Gondola System

Winter Park Resort Ski Village, Colorado (Photo from Wikimedia) (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Ireland’s national independent planning body, An Bord Pleanála, acknowledged the environmental concerns brought forward by the Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE). In November of 2021, An Bord Pleanála approved the decommissioning of the existing Dursey Island cableway and the construction of a new two-way cableway. The new cableway has two cabins with the capacity to carry 15 people each. Toward the end of 2021, FIE challenged the approval and said the proposed station locations for the new system are in highly sensitive areas. The case will be before the courts again on May 9.
The article “Western Canadian Cities hold gondolas as an option for transit tourism plans” explores the spread of gondolas in urban settings. The article references a proposed gondola connecting Red Deer’s business District with the Bower Ponds recreational area and another along the Saskatchewan River connecting downtown Edmonton and Whyte Avenue. systems. The article says cities are starting to recognize gondolas’ economic advantages, the conveniences of moving people from one place to another, as well as the shorter build times. Other gondolas are being considered in Alberta cities, such as Banff and Canmore. The parent company of the Gondola Project, SCJ Alliance, is involved in some of these projects.
An Austrian gondola system that may be retrofitted for use in Juneau, Alaska, has been deemed “a really fantastic machine” after a recent inspection. An engineer from the city and other engineering consultants inspected the system during a recent trip and all were impressed. The gondola, currently, at Galsterberg Ski Area, was reported to be very well maintained and in excellent condition. Check out a related Weekly Roundup here. The parent company of the Gondola Project, SCJ Alliance, has been retained to provide gondola expertise for this project.
Colorado’s Winter Park Resort revealed in their master plan intentions to add a three-gondola system to connect downtown to the ski village. The first leg will be the longest, at a little over 1.75 miles, and connect Winter Park to Copper Creek Summit using 10-person cabins. It will tie into other legs which will ultimately lead to the resort village. The added system is estimated to increase the skier capacity from 15,000 to 22,375 daily. Furthermore, Winter Park Resort also plans to upgrade its ski lifts to include a gondola with 8-person cabins.

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01
Apr

2022

Weekly Roundup: Replacement Lifts

Cypress Mountain Resort by Marc van der Chijs (CC BY-ND 2.0)

The Cypress Mountain Resort in Canada is building a new chair lift to its peak. The SkyQuad lift will replace the existing Sky Chair, a double chair from 1968. The new Doppelmayr system not only has more capacity, but also includes a loading carpet at the lower terminal. Construction will begin April 2022 and will be completed by October 2022.
Locals are wanting Seattle’s transit agency to consider a gondola instead of the light rail expansion. Consultants believe the gondola could cost $2 billion less and have a quicker implantation time than the current Sound Transit light rail project. The gondola is estimated to be up and running by 2026 compared to 2032 for the light rail project due to continued delays. The local group’s sense of urgency is fueled by intense traffic due to the West Seattle Bridge project delays.
The 1994 Thunder lift at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort will be replaced with a new detachable quad. The lift will run double the speed of the original lift making the total travel time 3.6 minutes. The system is manufactured by Leitner-Poma.

Uncategorized / Weekly Roundup

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The Gondola Project

Uncategorized

Weekly Roundup: Base to Base Gondola opening!

Weekly Roundup: Doppelmayr has just released the new TRI-Line gondola

Weekly Roundup: Dursey Island Cable Car to reopen in November

Weekly Roundup: Colorado’s Steamboat Resort Prepares for the Wild Blue Gondola!

Weekly Roundup: Sugarloaf Mountain Announces Zipline Addition

Weekly Roundup: Winter Park Resort Master Plan Includes Three-Gondola System

Weekly Roundup: Replacement Lifts

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