While gondolas are a commonplace form of commuting in places like Latin America, Scandinavia, and Asia, the United States has yet to build a world-class, modern urban gondola.
Related: Chicago Is Looking To Build A Badass Futuristic Gondola Through Downtown
That all might change in the coming years as DC and Arlington officials ponder a recent feasibility report that portrays an economically viable and legally sound gondola connection between Virginia and the District of Columbia reports the Washington Post.
The gondola would serve 6,500 passengers daily, with 24 cabins holding 12 people each.
Currently titled, “The Georgetown – Rosslyn Gondola,” the gondola would allow commuters and tourists to use the gondola as an alternative to the “Key Bridge“ that connects the Georgetown (DC) and Rosslyn (Virginia) neighborhoods. The big takeaway from the $200,000 feasibility report is that the project has, “no fatal flaws.” However, the next steps, which include a thorough environmental assessment, fundraising the $90 million dollar tab, and getting two separate jurisdictions to agree on the permitting process, will make the project a distant dream in for DC and VA residents.
That said, proponents of the Gondola recently pitched the idea as a part of the Georgetown’s 2028 “15-year Action Plan,” so DC has that going for them…
Find the entire Washington Post article here: A gondola connecting D.C. and Virginia? It’s feasible and legal, study finds.