Build the SFU Gondola

04/10/2025

STATEMENT: 37,000 Simon Fraser University students and faculty let down as TransLink investment plan fails to include the Burnaby Mountain Gondola project. 3 more years of delay for a project that is needed NOW would be unacceptable.

12/12/2024

STATEMENT: The Grouse Mountain Resort's Blue Gondola opening today shows us that SFU Gondola progress is way too slow!

Today we celebrate a NEW GONDOLA opening in our region. The Blue Grouse Gondola replaces the old Blue Skyride aerial tram and was built and conceptualized in just 3 years!

If TransLink approves the Burnaby Mountain Gondola in its investment plan next year, Simon Fraser University students could be riding a gondola by 2028! But for now, I guess we will put up with the bus!

01/29/2022

We are thrilled today to learn that Burnaby Council has approved the Burnaby Mountain Gondola, travelling directly from Production Way-University SkyTrain Station to Simon Fraser University.

The benefits of the gondola have been well-understood by advocates for over a decade, and we thank the City of Burnaby - Local Government for recognizing these significant benefits to residents and students alike, as well as the environment. With a projected 2035 ridership of 35,000 people per day and lower environmental impacts than all other route proposals, it’s clear that the Route 1 gondola is the best route to move forward.

We were only one such group advocating for the gondola, and could not have done this alone. Over the years we were joined by so many other advocates, including Chardaye Bueckert, Giovanni HoSang, Shina Kaur , Osob Mohamed, SFSS President 2021/21 - Gabe Liosis, Ali Versi, Samad Raza, Corbett Gildersleve and Matt Provost, among others; not to mention Simon Fraser University, Simon Fraser Student Society, UniverCity, TransLink, and various organizations in support. In addition, every survey filled out, every email sent to stakeholders, and every like and share on our posts moved us one step closer to the outcome that we had today. If we had stood alone pushing for this gondola, nothing would have happened. To see the community step up to support this vital transportation project has been more inspiring and uplifting than anyone could have imagined.

We still have to work this through TransLink and the Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation one last time to ensure it’s included in an investment plan. However, this moves us one very important step forward towards a Burnaby Mountain Gondola. Please hang in there for a little longer!

- Colin and Daryl

06/26/2021

We would like to ENDORSE Mike Hillman for the Burnaby By-Election given his stance on the Burnaby Mountain Gondola. Mike truly understands that we simply cannot add more buses or use electric buses. The Burnaby Mountain Gondola is necessary to add capacity to transit services that buses simply cannot handle, no matter what shiny technology we use.

02/07/2021

We don't need to keep rehashing the same points that have been repeatedly made over the last 10 years. We don't need more studies or consultations to answer questions that we all know the answers to. Classes WILL return to campus again, and the scores of students, staff, and residents need a reliable, sustainable, and efficient way off the mountain.

Write to Burnaby Council today and ask them to support route 1 - the fastest, lowest cost, and most environmentally sound option.

www.sfu.ca/gondola

12/01/2020

The Simon Fraser Student Society's open house earlier this year displayed both the strong Gondola enthusiasm in the SFU student community and the overwhelming preference for a direct gondola route ('Route 1') to Production Way-University, supported by over 8 out of every 10 students.

Over the weekend we attended TransLink's open house (part of ongoing engagement) where we found that the SFU student community's preferred route option not only offers the lowest travel times, but also the best value for money (with a lower cost than routes 2 and 3), the lowest number of access points (fewer towers and no ground-level turning station), and the best geotechnical conditions—fulfilling the public's overwhelming ask of a safe and secure route up and down the mountain.

Route 1 also offers the lowest environmental impacts by avoiding the need for a complex turning station in the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, and we believe that TransLink has significantly addressed concerns on privacy, noting that Route 1 passes by the fewest residential properties, more than 150 feet above and away from those properties, and that affected property owners within the project's right-of-way would be entitled to compensation—the same as with other transportation projects such as road widening or construction of SkyTrain infrastructure.

Now that the SFU Surrey campus is about to see a very significant expansion (including a medical school component), we need to pay attention more than ever to the route options for what will become part of a crucial link between the Surrey and Burnaby campuses. Route 2 and Route 3 mean not just longer ascent and descent times, but also longer walk times from the SkyTrain to the Gondola, and longer walk times to the SFU campus buildings once you're on top. We can do better than subjecting the more than 7,000 SFU students coming from South of Fraser cities to sore feet, on top of lengthy commute times coming to and from class on a daily basis.

In our view, the choice we should make is already clear. But, there is still an opportunity to learn more, provide input, and with all aspects considered, make a decision for yourself. TransLink's next Gondola Virtual Open House is TOMORROW (December 1st) at 7PM and it's a quick sign-up process at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HZ9DbZaHQzO9pMFwNz1UZg.

DON'T FORGET to fill out the SURVEY and let TransLink know what you think at: https://engagetranslink.ca/burnaby-mountain-gondola-phase-2/survey_tools/burnaby-mountain-gondola-phase-2-public-engagement-survey.

11/10/2020

As snow returns to Burnaby Mountain once more, we can't help but be reminded that in normal years, this would signal the arrival of 4 or more months of unpredictable travel to and from Burnaby Mountain for 35,000 students, staff, and residents.

In TransLink's recent gondola survey, providing a safe and secure service and improving all-weather service and reliability were overwhelmingly the top priorities for the gondola going forward. In addition, the gondola was received extremely well with 85% support with over 50% of respondents in EVERY demographic being in favour of the project. The mandate and the message is clear: the region understands the challenges facing Burnaby Mountain residents and commuters and wants to see better, more reliable service.

10/05/2020

We are thrilled to learn that with more than TEN THOUSAND responses, the public is on board with the Burnaby Mountain gondola! We are incredibly grateful to those who took the time to fill out the survey and share it with their friends and family, and especially to those who eloquently laid out the facts as to why this is a necessary project. The gondola has never been closer to reality, but we must preserve this momentum for the following stages of consultation.

A long-held plan to allow SFU students and others to make it to the top of the Burnaby Mountain on a Gondola passed another hurdle, with Translink suggesting the concept seems to have widespread support.

01/08/2020

"Among [incoming SFU President Joy Johnson's] top priorities will be championing the development of a gondola connecting SFU’s campus on Burnaby Mountain with the Production Way SkyTrain station.
“We shouldn’t be saying ‘SFU’ without saying ‘gondola’ these days,” she said. “We really do need better transit up the mountain here on Burnaby campus." - From Business In Vancouver

We are so excited to welcome Dr. Joy Johnson as President of SFU later this year and hear of her strong support for the gondola! She will carry on a great legacy left by President Andrew Petter of fighting for this transportation project.

And not a day too soon - lineups on the 145 reached horrendous levels yet again today with some reporting 4-bus waits. The gondola is no longer a choice. The gondola is a necessity.

01/06/2020

Today the region welcomed RapidBus to the transit network! SFU commuters can look forward to the new R5 Hastings, and we can't wait until we welcome another transit service to our campus through the skies 🚡🚡

12/04/2019

The results of TransLink's Transport 2050 consultations are in! With nearly 32,000 region-wide responses, the most liked idea is the Burnaby Mountain Gondola! We are grateful to residents of Metro Vancouver for understanding and supporting an urban transport gondola to Burnaby Mountain. Clearly, our issues with bus overcrowding, breakdowns, and inclement weather are top of mind for the region.

https://buzzer.translink.ca/2019/12/read-the-transport-2050-phase-one-engagement-report/