Every day thousands of Simon Fraser University students, faculty and staff travel by diesel bus between the Production Way-University Skytrain Station and the SFU Burnaby Mountain Campus. TransLink is considering building a gondola to reduce existing bus traffic on this route. If built, this gondola would transport up to 3000 passengers at peak capacity per hour at a cost of at least $120 million. It would also require building five towers up to 70 meters high along the 2.7 km route.
This issue has sparked a robust dialogue in the community, and I’ve used a variety of methods to gage where residents in affected areas stand on the proposed gondola, including by going door to door in the community, sending out mail surveys and conducting phone polling. I’ve called on TransLink to present a better plan for the gondola, and will personally continue to engage with our community into the new year. The links below outline some of the arguments for and against the gondola, media coverage of this ongoing issue, and some of the ways I’ve been engaging with members of our community. I encourage you to read through these links and let me know what you think.
- Kennedy
Background:
TransLink:
“Burnaby Mountain Gondola”: http://www.translink.ca/en/Be-Part-of-the-Plan/Rapid-Transit-Projects/Burnaby-Mountain-Gondola.aspx
“Burnaby Mountain Gondola Document Library”: http://www.translink.ca/en/site-info/document-library-result.aspx
“Jeff Busby, manager of project planning, explains the Burnaby Mountain Gondola”: http://buzzer.translink.ca/index.php/2011/05/jeff-busby-manager-of-project-planning-explains-the-burnaby-mountain-gondola/
Citizens Opposed to the Gondola:
Home page: http://www.nogondola.org/
“Gondola Explained”: http://www.nogondola.org/gondola-explained/
SFU students back plans for gondola up mountain
Janaya Fuller-Evans, Burnaby NOW, September 21, 2011
Gondola battle goes to city hall
Janaya Fuller-Evans, Burnaby NOW, August 31, 2011
In the media:
MP's survey finds mixed opinion on SFU gondola proposal
Wanda Chow, Burnaby NewsLeader, November 02, 2011
Burnaby Mountain gondola supported by 47 per cent of those surveyed
Janaya Fuller-Evans, Burnaby NOW, November 2, 2011
Stewart launches gondola consult
Janaya Fuller-Evans, Burnaby NOW, October 7, 2011
SFU gondola topic of MP's survey
John Streit, News 1130, October 05, 2011
Burnaby MP Kennedy Stewart conducting gondola consultation
Janaya Fuller-Evans, Burnaby NOW, October 5, 2011
Federal politician looking for local input on the proposed SFU gondola
Global News, October 05, 2011
Press releases:
Burnaby Mountain Gondola does not have full support of local residents:
MP Kennedy Stewart wants better plan from Translink
November 2, 2011
Burnaby-Douglas MP Kennedy Stewart Begins Burnaby Mountain Gondola Consultation Process
October 4, 2011
