The results of Burnaby-Douglas MP Kennedy Stewart's telephone survey on the Burnaby Mountain gondola are in.
Direct Leap Technologies Incorporated surveyed more than 1,000 area residents on behalf of Stewart's office.
Of those surveyed, 47 per cent said they supported the plan, 39 per cent opposed it, and 14 per cent were undecided, according to a press release from Stewart's office.
"We're pretty happy with how it went," he said of the survey. "There was a very high rate of response."
While the results show that many people think the project has merits, Stewart said, TransLink needs to do a better job of making the plans and details clear to people.
"TransLink needs to make it more palatable," he said.
Stewart kept the survey simple with one question, he said, asking residents if they supported TransLink's Burnaby Mountain gondola project.
Automated telephone technology was used to phone the households in the affected area bounded by Duthie and North roads, and Barnet and Lougheed highways.
In total, Direct Leap Technologies contacted 5,831 households by phone for the survey.
Stewart announced in early October that he would be conducting the survey.
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.
"In all fairness to TransLink, ours is a bit more thorough," he said of his consultation plan, adding both those for and against the project had mentioned that as an issue with the TransLink consultations.
While Stewart appreciated the information obtained through TransLink's research on the project, he said he wants a more comprehensive consultation to find out what his constituents think of it.
The first phase of Stewart's consultation process consisted of meetings and correspondence with stakeholders, while the second phase involves gathering opinions from affected local residents using in-person, mail and telephone surveys.
His office has just started receiving the mail-in surveys back, and hopes to start compiling its report on the community's response to the project in a few weeks, he said.
Simon Fraser University students are collecting signatures for a petition, Stewart said, and he intends to include that in the information used for the report.
"We'll put all of this together, and see where we are on this as a community," he said.
Two public meetings will also be held, most likely in January, according to Stewart.
TransLink 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.
TransLink is currently working on a business case study for the project.
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.
