Gondola instead of light rail? Sound Transit might look into it

An advocacy group leader says an urban gondola system would be up sooner and cost less than a light-rail system.

An urban gondola system does not give the impression of a fierce competitor, but it could be one for light-rail transit projects in the West Seattle area.

SkyLink, a citizen advocacy group, said it has talked to Sound Transit about the construction of a gondola system in West Seattle. The group claims the alternative to light rail could be in service sooner and would be cheaper. A gondola system would be completed by 2026 and would cost $2 billion less. Light-rail expansion in West Seattle has been marred in delays and cost overruns. Light-rail is not expected to be up and running until 2032, and construction costs have increased 73%.

SkyLink is trying to convince Sound Transit to launch a study on the impacts of building a gondola system. The study would cost about $200,000.

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