TransLink released the business case analysis for the proposed gondola on Burnaby Mountain today along with a community update.
In summary, although TransLink originally stated that the gondola would reduce annual operating and bus costs by $2 to $5 million (see page 5), the business case analysis has found that the cost of building and maintaining the gondola would actually exceed the cost of the current bus system that serves SFU by $12 million over 25 years. The gondola plan has subsequently not been included in their supplemental plan moving forward.
Although the CBC ran a headline declaring that the plan had been “nixed”, this only appears to be for the time being. TransLink states that they will still consider the project for future plans. Citizens Opposed to the Gondola will continue monitoring this proposal and provide updates until TransLink drops this plan from their list of projects under consideration.
Edit: The CBC article title has now been changed: Burnaby Mtn. gondola shelved by TransLink