Burnaby Mtn. gondola shelved by TransLink

It appears a plan to buildan overhead cable-car gondola system heading up Burnaby Mountain to Simon Fraser Universitywon't be happening any time soon.

A new report by the Lower Mainland transit authority TransLink shows there are many benefits to the proposal, but the gondola would cost about $12 million more over 25 years than sticking with bus service on the route.

Jeffrey Busby, Translink's manager of infrastructure planning, said Wednesday that there still are benefits to justify the $120-million costof the project.

Busby said the gondola project could be included in future TransLink strategic planning.

The 2009 concept envisioned a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing diesel buses, to improve travel times and to increase transit reliability.

During the winter months, bus service up Burnaby Mountain is often delayed because of icy road conditions.

Homeowners on Burnaby Mountain expressed concernsabout the safety and the potential for privacy invasion of having cable cars frequently passing overhead all day long.