Seattle Neighborhood Groups Propose Aerial Gondola to Replace Light Rail Expansion

Impatient with the city's light rail expansion plans, some residents are looking to aerial gondolas as a new mode of public transit.

2 minute read

December 28, 2020, 12:00 PM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Maokong Sky Gondola

Prince Roy / Flickr

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.

Friday, December 18, 2020 in The Urbanist

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

The Seat of Government

Good Planning Under Bad Leadership

Planners must sometimes work under bad leadership. Here are suggestions for responsive planning in challenging political environments.

February 3, 2025 - Todd Litman

Close-up of Donald Shoup during interview.

Legendary Parking Guru Donald Shoup Dies at 86

Urbanists are mourning the loss of a dynamic voice for parking reform and walkable cities.

February 10, 2025 - StreetsBlog NYC

Amtrak train with downtown Seattle in background.

Amtrak Cascades Line Breaks Ridership Record

The route linking Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, BC served nearly one million riders in 2024.

February 2, 2025 - Daily Hive

Vacant interior of open plan office with large buildings and stacked wood planks on floor.

Over 71K Office-to-Apartment Units in the Pipeline for 2025

Adaptive reuse projects are continuing to bring thousands of new housing units onto the market as demand for office space remains low.

February 12 - RentCafé

Crane and construction on multi-story buildings in downtown Houston, Texas.

How Houston Can Be a Model for Housing Reform

The city builds more new housing than almost any other and has dramatically reduced homelessness, yet low-income families struggle to find affordable housing.

February 12 - Urban Edge

Small rural USPS post office in manufactured one-story grey building with American flag in front.

Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes

Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.

February 12 - Cowboy State Daily