Gondola? Who asked for a gondola?

[mem_winterhill]

Via the SomPedTransit mailing list, I was alerted to the floating [ahem] of a proposal to replace the pedestrian/cyclist bridge across the Mystic with a gondola. No, seriously, stop laughing. It was in the Globe.

Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/07/business/everett-officials-envision-aerial-gondolas-city-hall-casino-assembly-station/

Reply: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/07/metro/walkers-cyclists-worry-that-an-everett-gondola-would-cost-them-crucial-connection/

Non-Globe piece that doesn't require subscription: https://patch.com/massachusetts/somerville/environmental-advocates-push-back-against-encore-gondola-proposal

This is, of course, insane. Low volume, subject to breaking, in a windy area... I rarely state my own opinion on these things here, trying to be a bit neutral. But this is a hard NO from me if it replaces the bridge.

That said, we joked about how this might actually work up Winter Hill if we can't get a north-south bus route. But no, this is just kidding.

Examples:

 

I was about to have kittens about the gondola, and then I was remembering a trip to Pittsburgh where they have this fun tram up a nearby hill that takes you to this kind of sweet view and there's an ice cream place up there...it doesn't suck.

https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/directory/duquesne-incline/

 

I definitely don't want a gondola system to come at the cost of a bike/ped bridge. That said I had seen a City Beautiful YouTube video about gondola systems recently and I've been day dreaming about a line running from the casino through Assembly to Ten Hills, the tops of Winter and Spring Hills and onward to Harvard via Conway Park.

Maybe I just hate climbing hills.

I prefer the TransitTrebuchet.

Plus a footbridge, of course.

Pushback from Mystic River Watershed folks: https://mysticriver.org/news/2020/2/10/mystic-river-watershed-association-calls-on-state-and-encore-to-partner-on-mystic-river-pedestrian-and-bicycle-bridge

Anyway: I draw your attention to the Draw Seven park upcoming meeting where influencing the decision on the bridge might be worthwhile. 
https://whna.dreamwidth.org/53669.html

Edit to add: the last meeting I recall on the Pedestrian bridge is here: https://whna.dreamwidth.org/16420.html You can download the slides that make the state's own case for the bridge form. 

Comments

[ratushebarl]

I think it's tactical -- the Encore people are floating this idiotic idea so that when it gets shot down, they can point to the cities being obstructionist as their excuse for building nothing.

[kelkyag]

It'd be an entertaining little tourist attraction, but not a viable alternative to foot/bike transit.

But if it's pushed, requiring it to be fully accessible to wheelchairs, bikes (including with trailers), strollers, and so forth, and to run frequently enough and in all weather that the trip across the river including wait time is no longer than it would be with a bridge even if there's heavy traffic might be ... helpful in discouraging it as the only option.

I expect Encore really doesn't want the hoi polloi commuting past their fancy garden. Sad for them.

[mem_winterhill]

It's so windy over there all the time. My bootcamp class meets there in many types of weather, but even the good sunny days are quite breezy there. We note this all the time among ourselves.

But yeah, what a nightmare to wait in line with sweaty cyclists, moms with agitated kids, and the hoi. And then not be suited to the range of mobility options people will need.

I had the Draw Seven meeting on my calendar anyway, but this makes it more crucial to support the bridge and make that known.