Seattle Neighborhood Groups Propose Aerial Gondola to Replace Light Rail Expansion

A proposed aerial gondola could shuttle Seattle residents from downtown to West Seattle by 2024. The plan for the West Seattle SkyLink, proposed by a group of neighborhood activists, is gaining some traction as a possible alternative to existing light rail plans, which are currently projected to cost $600 million per mile and reach completion in 2031. Advocates hope to convince Sound Transit that the aerial gondola is a more cost-efficient option. The agency has reappropriated funds in the past: when safety concerns about tunneling for the Link light rail line stopped construction in 2005, the agency funded the First Hill line of the Seattle Streetcaras a replacement.

Used in some cities with challenging terrain, urban aerial gondolas can solve space issues in dense, hilly areas. In Colombia, Medellin's Metrocable system carries commuters over 9 miles of cable across the city's steep terrain. The SkyLink's proponents hope that they can convince Americans to support the technology, which, they say, could be less obtrusive and cause less displacement than other forms of transit and get built faster and more cheaply than light rail.

Opponents argue that the gondola's low passenger capacity, slower speed, and risk of inflated costs make it a much less efficient option. Citing the Medellin gondola's relatively low daily ridership, rail supporters claim that a comprehensive light rail network, planned with long-term expansion in mind, can serve more users more effectively safely than aerial gondolas.