NDP Burnaby-Douglas MP Kennedy Stewart announced he would be conducting a public consultation on the proposed Burnaby Mountain gondola on Tuesday.
Stewart, who was recently appointed associate natural resources critic for Western Canada by the New Democratic Party, wants to see a more inclusive consultation process on the project, he said in a press release.
"All levels of government should ensure affected communities are involved in decision making," Stewart said. "I have taken care to include both those for and against the gondola in the process, and I believe by being inclusive, we can come up with a plan that most will agree with."
The first phase of Stewart's consultation process consisted of meetings and correspondence with stakeholders including Simon Fraser University, TransLink, Burnaby council, First Nations and representatives the Citizens Opposed to the Gondola group, according to the release.
The second phase is intended to gather opinions from affected local residents using in person, mail and telephone surveys. Results will be reported to stakeholders and mailed to all Burnaby-Douglas households, the release stated, and two public meetings will also be held.
Automated telephone technology will be used to phone the approximately 5,000 households in the affected area bounded by Duthie Road, North Road, Barnet Highway and Lougheed Highway.
TransLink recently compiled its own consultation summary report on the gondola project, released on Sept. 12.
The majority of respondents did not think that the gondola was a good solution to solving some of the challenges of traveling to and from Burnaby Mountain.
Of 554 responses, 75 per cent strongly disagreed with the gondola as a solution, while only 15 per cent strongly agreed.
The primary concern for respondents was the cost of the project.
The project's estimated cost is $120 million.
The gondola would run about 40 metres above the ground and tree canopy, over the Forest Grove neighbourhood, according to TransLink.
The line would include five towers, up to 70 metres tall, to support the cables. Tower locations have not yet been determined.
