TransLink is asking the public for their opinion on the proposed Burnaby Mountain Gondola and the three potential routes the project could take. A gondola would provide fast, frequent and reliable service, improving connectivity for students, employees and residents who travel between Burnaby Mountain and other parts of Metro Vancouver. The consultation will run from September 1-30, 2020.

“We are working closely with the City of Burnaby and Simon Fraser University,” says Project Director Jeffrey Busby. “During the first half of 2020, we completed technical work to help inform our engagement with stakeholders, the public and Indigenous groups. This work helped us to understand conditions in the corridors, develop conceptual designs for three proposed alignments, and update key information, such as ridership, cost, and benefits.”

The public consultation will focus on the three proposed routes, including travel times, costs and environmental impacts, as well as neighbourhood interests, such as noise, safety and privacy.

Route alignment options:

• Route 1 is a straight-line route from Production Way–University SkyTrain Station to SFU Burnaby campus with the gondola terminal located near the bus exchange.
• Route 2 is the eastern route from Production Way–University SkyTrain Station with the gondola travelling along Gagliardi Way, changing direction at an angle station, and continuing to SFU Burnaby campus with the terminal near the bus exchange.
• Route 3 is the western route from Lake City Way SkyTrain Station to SFU Burnaby campus, which would cross the Burnaby Mountain Golf Course, change direction at an angle station, and continue to SFU Burnaby Campus with the terminal located south of South Campus Road.

The Burnaby Mountain Gondola would provide service between SkyTrain and Burnaby Mountain for 25,000 daily trips made by SFU students, staff, faculty, and residents of UniverCity. Gondola cabins would depart every minute, carrying more people up the mountain per hour than current bus services and in about half the time. Gondolas are safe, smart and cost-effective, operating in all kinds of weather and free from the constraints of the road. Gondolas also provide commuters with an environmentally friendly mode of transit that runs on electricity, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed Burnaby Mountain Gondola is not yet approved or funded.

Public engagement is a key component of rapid transit planning. For more information on proposed routes and the consultation schedule, visit: www.translink.ca/gondola.