Burnaby Mountain Gondola

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In 2014, the TransLink Mayors’ Council developed a 10-Year Vision for Metro Vancouver transit and transportation highlighting the need for a high-capacity connection from Burnaby Mountain to a nearby SkyTrain station.

The concept of a gondola linking Simon Fraser University (SFU) to a SkyTrain station has been the subject of three studies in the last decade. These studies suggest a gondola could deliver significant benefits over existing transit choices, including: 

• shorter travel times 
• more frequent departures 
• increased ridership
• greater winter reliability 
• reduced noise and emissions 

TransLink’s 2018 Feasibility Study recommended that a three-cable gondola, also used with the Peak 2 Peak Gondola in Whistler, remain the preferred option for the proposed Burnaby Mountain Gondola.

SFU is the biggest transit destination in Burnaby that’s not on a SkyTrain line. Of the 10 busiest bus stops in the city, six service SFU. Today, there are 25,000 transit trips to or from the mountain every weekday. That is only expected to rise as the campus and UniverCity community grow. 

A gondola may also have a range of potential impacts. Notable are intrusion into residential areas and impacts to fish-bearing streams.

On May 27, 2019, Burnaby City Council provided support in principle for a gondola from SkyTrain to the top of Burnaby Mountain. This support did not include endorsement of a specific alignment, and was subject to five core principles:

• Residents – minimize impacts to residents living near the gondola, at all stages of the project.
• Environment – minimize impacts to areas with high ecological value, including fish-bearing streams and surrounding riparian areas.
• Compensation – provide fair compensation to impacted property owners for intrusion of the gondola.
• Options – three route options should be considered on an equal basis in the next stage of analysis and public consultation. Option 3 should be reviewed with and without the extension of Expo Line operations to Lake City Way Station.
• Consultation – engage the community in meaningful consultation, especially regarding alignment options. And report back to Burnaby City Council on the results.

What's next?

This is a proposed TransLink project. They are currently reviewing whether or not to advance the project to the next stage of planning and analysis. That decision is expected in the second half of 2019. If the project advances, there would be opportunities for the public to comment on the proposed options. This would be followed by the selection of a preferred alignment and confirmation of construction funding.

Learn more

• Project Web Page (TransLink)
• Burnaby Mountain Gondola Transit Feasibility Study (TransLink)
• Burnaby Mountain Gondola Transit Project (City of Burnaby, Staff Report)