A gondola cabin is making its way around Staten Island, giving residents a real-life look at what the proposed aerial tram car would be like if the idea moves forward. The Staten Island’s Economic Development Corporation (SIEDC) launched a design competition in early 2016 for submissions for an aerial tram that would connect the borough to the surrounding areas and Colarado’s Leitner-Poma of America (LPOA) was announced as a winner in September of last year.
According to SI Live, the cabin arrived on Staten Island on Thursday and will traverse the island on the back of a flatbed truck, making stops at the College of Staten Island, the Staten Island Mall, Father Capodanno Boardwalk, St. John's University Staten Island Campus, and other sites. The gondola will also drive through various neighborhoods before ending its week-long tour on Thursday, April 27th at the Hilton Garden Inn where SIEDC will host a business conference from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The @SIEDC wants to build a gondola system for Staten Island commuters — would you ride this? https://t.co/7BFWWm9V67 pic.twitter.com/DCnSAbhFQR
— WNYC (@WNYC) April 21, 2017
If the gondola materializes, it would run parallel to the Bayonne Bridge and connect to New Jersey’s Eight Street station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, where commuters could then connect to a PATH train, and subsequently make their way to Manhattan. The estimated total travel time between Staten Island and Manhattan would be 33 minutes.
The SIEDC is currently working to raise funds for a feasibility study and estimates that the project itself would cost about $60 million, reports SI Live.
Check out the full tour schedule below:
April 20: The cabin will drive through St. George, Tompkinsville and Stapleton,
7:00 a.m to 10:00 a.m., and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
April 21: College of Staten Island in front of building 1C, 10:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m.
April 22: Staten Island Mall, (East Pacific/Chase Bank Parking Lot),
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
April 23: Father Capodanno Boardwalk (Sand Lane parking lot), 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
April 24: St. John's University Staten Island Campus, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.,
and Wagner College, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
April 25: The cabin will drive through the SIEDC's Neighborhood Development towns of Richmond Road, New Dorp, Huguenot, and Richmond Valley, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
April 27: SIEDC Business Conference at Hilton Garden Inn, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.