Stop the Gondola!

We received the below message yesterday from the Burnaby Citizens Association (BCA) shortly after our previous post on the response from TEAM Burnaby. The BCA has held a majority on Burnaby City Counsel and Board of Education for the past 20 years, and is lead by current Mayor Derek Corrigan, who is seeking re-election on November 19th.  Thank you BCA for responding to our email and for addressing this issue.  The fact that the current government has so many unanswered questions about a project in it’s own city is further evidence that this project really is not for the citizens of the region and instead is serving private interests.

Again, we encourage citizens to contact BCA, and all other parties in the upcoming election and let them know that this gondola is not wanted.

Hi,

Thank you for your email regarding Translink’s proposed gondola to SFU.

In short Burnaby Citizens Association candidates do not support the
proposed gondola.

The BCA is unable to support the gondola in the absence of the
following information from TransLink:

1. What does the business case say? When will it be made public? Has
it been completed?
2. Is the gondola really a top transit priority for Burnaby, while
some neighbourhoods are looking for better bus service?
3. How will the project be funded? Has project funding been lined up?
4. Most importantly neighbourhood consultation has not been completed,
and when will a report on neighbourhood consultation be presented?

There is simply not enough information at present to make a decision
in support of this proposal, let alone come close to addressing
neighbourhood concerns about safety and the impact on the Burnaby
Mountain conservation area.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond.

Sincerely,
Jessie Uppal on behalf of
BCA Campaign Team

We received the below letter from TEAM Burnaby, whose candidates are running for mayor, counsel, and school trustee positions in the upcoming Burnaby Local Government Election on November 19th.  While Citizens Opposed to the Gondola is a nonpartisan organization, we commend TEAM Burnaby for their opposition of the gondola and recommend that anyone concerned with this project ask the officials running for office in their community their position on this proposal before voting.

Thank you for your question regarding the proposed gondola system between the Production Way Skytrain station and SFU.

This is the response on behalf of TEAM Burnaby candidates for mayor and council.

TEAM Burnaby notes that SFU is served by Gaglardi Way on the south side and
the Burnaby Mountain Parkway/Hastings connector on the west side. These
major roads have more than adequate capacity to facilitate existing and
expanded transit service to Burnaby Mountain.

In addition to transit use, TEAM Burnaby believes cycling, ride-sharing and
car-pooling should be encouraged and promoted by Translink, the City of
Burnaby and SFU.

TEAM Burnaby is concerned about the loss of privacy, noise and view
degradation that may affect residents of the Forest Grove neighbourhood and,
in particular, the Pine Ridge Housing Co-op, if the gondola system and
significant support towers are constructed.

TEAM Burnaby is concerned that the gondola route and support structures will
impact the Burnaby Mountain conservation area owned by the city of Burnaby.
TEAM Burnaby is concerned about deforestation, slope erosion, sediment
run-off affecting stream water quality, wildlife habitat disruption and
micro-environmental effects of the gondola project.

Given the above unaddressed issues and noting significant area resident
concerns, TEAM Burnaby candidates for city council do not support the
construction of the Production Way/SFU gondola.

Thank you for your question.

Lee Rankin
TEAM Burnaby candidate for council
On behalf of TEAM Burnaby candidates for mayor and council