Streetcar or Gondola?
A side-by-side comparison
Ogden City faces a critical choice. A study by the Utah Transit Authority and the Wasatch Front Regional Council has recommended constructing a modern streetcar system to serve the transit needs and future growth along the corridor from downtown Ogden to South Harrison Blvd. The Ogden City administration, meanwhile, is promoting an aerial gondola along a similar alignment. UTA has made it clear that we cannot have both. This table compares the two options, to help facilitate an informed decision.
| Streetcar | Gondola | |
|---|---|---|
| Alignment and stationsa |  |
 |
| Number of stations | 8 | 5 |
| Possible tripsb | 28 | 10 |
| Common destinationsc | Intermodal Hub, IRS, Junction, Temple Square, Wells Fargo Bank, Weber County offices, Hampton, Marriott, Federal Building, WSU, Old McKay-Dee site | |
| Additional destinations | Municipal Building, District Court, Justice Court, Juvenile Court, State office building, Bank of Utah, US Bank, Descente offices, 2 Post Offices, Golden Hours Senior Center, Central Middle School, Stimson's, IGA/Hispanic district, Ogden High School, Mt. Ogden Middle School, Grounds for Coffee, Pizza Runner, Harrison Plaza, McKay-Dee Hospital, Dee Events Center, Ice Sheet, The Pie, Jasoh's, Country Hills Plaza, Harrison Depot, Brentwood, Brook Hollow, Brownstone, & East Ridge Apartments | Mitch's Service Center, Petro Mart III, Lind Lecture Hall, Proposed foothill development |
| Total length | 4.5 miles | 4.5 miles |
| Total travel time | 17 minutesd | 24 minutese |
| Interval between vehicles | 8 minutes | 30 seconds |
| Average wait | 4 minutes | About a minutef |
| Right-of-way impacts | Dedicated lanes on Washington and Harrison | 50-foot-wide stations on Harrison at 23rd Street and WSU, plus poles (2/block) |
| Heating, air conditioning | Standard | Unlikely--would require custom equipment |
| Weather limitations | None | Wind, lightning |
| Comparable systems | Portland, San Francisco, New Orleans, etc. | None in urban settings in U.S.; gondolas at ski resorts are shorter and operate seasonally |
| Construction costg | $101 million | $42 million |
| Source of construction funds | 50% federal, 45% UTA, 5% Ogden City (mostly in-kind)h | 100% Ogden City, less any private contributions |
| Annual operating costi | $2.6 million | $4.0 million |
| Owned and operated by | UTA | Ogden City, with operation possibly contracted to a private company |
| Time to complete | 7-15 yearsj | 4-10 years?k |
aThe streetcar is assumed to follow the corridor recommended by the UTA/WFRC Transit Corridor Study, with the six recommended stops plus two additional intermediate stops. The number of stops along Harrison could be increased or decreased, depending on demand. The gondola is as depicted in the Lift Ogden brochure distributed late spring, 2006.
bThis is the number of possible distinct origin-destination pairs, given by the formula s(s?1)/2, where s is the number of stations.
cDestinations are within "walking distance" of a station, conventionally assumed to be a two-block radius, as shown by the circles on the maps.
dStreetcar travel time is based on the prediction of the UTA/WFRC Transit Corridor Study, adjusted to allow for the two extra intermediate stops.
eGondola travel time is based on an average cable speed of 13 mph, plus an additional half minute for each acceleration or deceleration at a station.
fThe average wait for the gondola depends on the number of people in line and, at intermediate stations, the number already aboard. Each cabin would hold a maximum of 8 passengers.
gConstruction costs are as predicted in the UTA/WFRC Transit Corridor Study, including a 30% contingency margin, with minor adjustments for design modifications assumed here (additional streetcar stations, smaller gondola cabins).
hThese percentages are typical for UTA projects. Municipalities typically contribute dedicated rights-of-way, curb and sidewalk improvements, and half the cost of the required environmental studies. The new federal "Small Starts" program may enable a larger federal match, lessening the amounts paid by UTA and Ogden City.
iOperating costs include routine maintenance but not long-term replacement of capital equipment. These estimates are based on the UTA/WFRC Transit Corridor Study.
jUTA's estimate (in a December 2005 letter to Ogden City); range depends mainly on availability of federal and UTA funds.
kMayor Godfrey has stated that the gondola would be built at the same time as the proposed foothill development and Malan's Basin resort. It seems likely that several years would be required for approvals, financing, and engineering design for these intricate and interrelated projects. Chris Peterson's attorney recently stated that the time to complete all phases of the Malan's Basin project would be approximately 10-20 years.
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