D.C. and Arlington Explore Connection by Gondola

A gondola system between Washington, D.C. and Arlington, Virginia would serve at least 6,500 passengers a day, a recent study found.

The proposal for a cable-based system across the Potomac River was spearheaded by the Georgetown BID as a strategy for easing congestion on the Key Bridge. In 2014, it was included in the Georgetown 2028 plan.

A recent study by Georgetown University and the governments of Arlington and the District suggested running the gondola between a new station in D.C. and the Rosslyn Metro station in Arlington. The project would be feasible and comply with federal aviation laws, it said.

Moreover, the cost of construction was projected to be $80 to $90 million—up to $14 million less than that of the NoMa Metro station built in D.C. in 2004, Prerry Stein reports for The Washington Post.

Passengers could expect to board a cabin every 20 seconds to a minute, and cross the river in about four minutes.