Overhead Cable Car Gondola Over Esquimalt Harbour to Fort Rodd Hill Proposal

Overhead Cable Car Gondola Over Esquimalt Harbour to Fort Rodd Hill. April 3, 2022

Map of the Esquimalt and West Shore area showing AM peak road congestion and the proposed gondola route across the harbour

This map above shows road congestion in the AM peak time. A new overhead cable car gondola over the Esquimalt harbour connecting Fort Road Hill to DND Dockyard entrance would provide excellent transfers to commuter BCTransit service in both directions for DND workers, Victoria commuters and Fort Rodd Hill tourists over existing and a new short BC Transit bus route. This gondola would also become a year round tourist attraction in itself and would boost visits to Fort Road Hill throughout the year more directly from Victoria.

London Cable Car over Thames River near Millennium Dome

Photograph of the London Cable Car system crossing the Thames River with the Millennium Dome in the background

Aerial cable gondolas have much lower greenhouse gas emissions than trains, busses, or cars. Gondolas are very quiet, are very robust in carrying capacity, up to 3,000 passengers per hour. The gondola cars would be 8 or 10 passenger capacity and would run 90 feet or more high over the ground or water surface with sufficient clearance over ships in the channel. This gondola would require shipping channel approval over Esquimalt harbour entrance.

Aerial perspective of a gondola station and surrounding urban development along a waterfront

Interior view of a gondola cabin demonstrating accessibility for a passenger in a wheelchair

This aerial cable gondola extension is about 1.5 km in length, a fairly short distance for such gondola systems. Urban gondolas are becoming much more common around the world as a low cost alternative effective greener way to transport people, than other modes of transport. A gondola would be particularly effective over a water channel and over tight spaces on congested roads or steep terrain A preliminary capital cost estimate would be in the $25 million range, which is probably half the cost of commuter train or passenger ferry from the West Shore to downtown Victoria. See route maps on page 14 & 15.

I recommend that a 'pre feasibility study' be done next to confirm the technical, regulatory and economic feasibility for this gondola proposal to transport passengers in the urban downtown setting. Alternative routes would also be evaluated.

I have worked with Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners Ltd. of Whistler to determine this gondola concept so far. Ecosign is an established consulting firm who have planned over 400 resorts around the world over the past 32 years. A $200,000 budget is sufficient for such a "pre feasibility study" for this gondola and it would take 6 months to complete. See page 16 for cost sharing.

Geoff Pearce, Municipal consultant

Close-up photograph of gondola cabins at a station platform

Aerial photograph of Esquimalt Navy Base with a line indicating the proposed gondola route and station locations

Esquimalt Navy Base. Gondola route to BC Transit bus station at Dockyard entrance on Esquimalt road.