A gondola always results in a revolving restaurant
First, there was a privately owned viewing tower proposed for Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver [“Mayors and B.C. government sign agreement on Metro Vancouver transit strategy”, web-only]. Then, a commercial zip-line adventure operation was proposed in Mundy Park in Coquitlam.
Last week, various media reported that TransLink has issued a request for proposals for a study on the feasibility of a cable car linking the Production Way SkyTrain Station to the top of Burnaby Mountain.
A TransLink spokesperson emphasized potential environmental and customer-service benefits.
However, the true motivator behind the scheme may have been revealed by Burnaby mayor Derek Corrigan, who was quoted as saying a gondola on Burnaby Mountain would be a “spectacular” tourist attraction.
I predict that the proposed upper gondola terminal will feature a viewing tower, a revolving restaurant, and a wind turbine. Undoubtedly, a $5 AddFare for down-bound passengers will be examined in the feasibility study to recoup the estimated $70-million cost (as is charged to passengers boarding the Canada Line at Vancouver International Airport).
> Derek Wilson / Port Moody
Comments
5 Comments
Bobbie Bees
Sep 30, 2010 at 3:19am
How about a zip-line from the top of Burnaby Mountain to Lougheed Town Centre?
Maybe even one of those 'log' rides.
reason
Oct 1, 2010 at 1:54am
Clearly, the writer of this article is extremely narrow-minded...it's unfortunate that we have so many of these types in the region.
wtf
Oct 1, 2010 at 9:41am
Why doesn't TransLink take the $70 million and put it towards the Evergreen Line? Or get some more buses on the streets? Or reduce fares? Stop coming up with these ridiculous tourism schemes for out-of-town visitors and take care of the people who pay the taxes for these services. Ridiculous.
reason
Oct 1, 2010 at 11:37am
Some people fail to realize that SFU will also be putting in a significant financial contribution to this project, it's not just Translink that will be footing the bill. Consider that SFU shuts down whenever there's snow or even ice on the access roads up to the mountain - this is the reliable solution. This certainly isn't an "out-of-town visitors" scheme.
It's a shame that innovative ideas are always shot down around here.
reason
Oct 1, 2010 at 5:11pm
...and that when SFU shuts down, it really shuts down. Thousands of students might be stranded in the campus, and would have to sleep over.
Not to mention that the buses that go up to SFU/Burnaby Mountain require significant maintenance that costs millions more.