Public engagement results have been released about theproposed gondola between the Millennium Line and the SFU campus on Burnaby Mountain.
What TransLink says is the project has vast support in Metro Vancouver, including nearly two-thirds support in Burnaby, according to its report.
But if you ask a few of the people in the path of one or two of the gondola’s proposed routes, they’ll tell you it’s the most terrifying idea in the history of transportation projects.
I’m not even joking. I’ve receive correspondence from some of the project’s opponents who make some pretty hysterical accusations about it.
These folks also deny they are NIMBYs. I actually agree in this case. What they really should be called are NOMBYs (Not Over My Backyard).
I don’t mean that in a mean way. They have a fair argument about this going over their homes, but they can’t deny they are NOMBYs because this is the textbook definition.
I would support their cause more if they weren’t so full of hyperbole about the project, TransLink, SFU and anyone else who supports it.
To some of these folks, it’s all one giant conspiracy aimed at ruining their lives and making money for a bunch of greedy developers.
I personally don’t really care about the project one way or another. Yes, I live on Burnaby Mountain, but I don’t plan on ever using the gondola if it’s built.
What I do care about is anyone who tries to use exaggerated claims to support or defeat something. That really bugs me.
I received one letter from a Forest Grove resident who tried to turn the September public engagement time period into a conspiracy to secure a “weak community response.”
“We are deeply concerned” they said about September being chosen due to COVID-19 and the return to school. As if that will somehow prevent people from taking a few minutes and filling out a survey. COVID is going to be around a long time so it’s hard to use that as excuse for holding off.
Oh, and TransLink said it is preparing for a second round of engagement, which will focus on the three proposed routes, so this isn’t the only time for the public to comment so stop with the conspiracy theories.
Then there was the project itself.
“We, the residents, shouldn’t be held hostage by groups that want a slightly faster commute, nor organizations that are looking to improve investments and profits at the cost of our neighbourhood’s sanctity and the lost value of our homes,” says one resident’s letter.
The writer also complains about decreased street parking, which makes no sense. Gondola users aren’t drivers. They’ll get off the bus or SkyTrain and hop on the gondola.
I just wished these folks would dial back the hysteria about this project. I'm not saying it's the greatest project ever devised, but it's not the calamity that some people are trying to make it out to be. Just make some logical points instead of conspiracies.
The regional transit authority reported 84% of the 12,955 survey participants in their engagement process were either supportive or very supportive of the project in general. That's compared to 65% in Burnaby.
TransLink estimates the gondola service would facilitate 25,000 daily trips by SFU students, staff and faculty, and UniverCity residents, with gondola cabins departing every minute.
In its report on the engagement, TransLink said it has been studying options to improve transit service up and down the mountain, noting that, during peak hours, it’s common for up to four full buses to pass by commuters. On top of that, current buses can often have difficulties getting up the mountain in winter weather conditions.
TransLink has proposed three routes for the gondola, including two departing from the Production Way-University SkyTrain station and ending up at the SFU bus exchange and a third that starts at Lake City Way station and ends near the SFU transportation centre.
- With files from Dustin Godfrey
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
