A Metchosin resident is proposing a unique way to alleviate commuter traffic in the Esquimalt and Colwood area, suggesting gondolas could hold the solution.
Geoff Pearce has been studying the traffic flow in the region for years, calling it hard to get around.
“Right now the roads (and) highways are all congested. There needs to be an alternative opportunity,” Pearce said.
His dream and vision would see a gondola soaring over the Esquimalt Harbour.
The commuter model has been used around the world in places like Portland and London.
Pearce’s proposed route would start at the bus exchange on the Department of National Defence grounds in Esquimalt, go over the harbour, ending at the Fort Rodd Hill or Colwood bus exchange.
“A lot of navy commuters could take it to work instead of driving,” He said. “Get out of their vehicles, get out the bus that’s stalled in the Colwood crawl and get a fast, overhead gondola ride.”
Pearce has sent a letter with his idea to both the Esquimalt and Colwood city councils.
Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins said she is open to the idea to help alleviate some of the traffic.
“We have 7,000 people who come to that base every day and go home. Some of them live in Esquimalt, but many of them live in the West Shore because it’s currently the most affordable place to live,” Desjardins said. “They have to get here somehow.”
She added that it would also be a great addition to the city’s tourism strategy, but she can’t make any decisions on the project because the suggested location is on federally owned land.
“If the base indicated they were OK to have a discussion, I would sit in the room and hear the whole presentation,” Desjardins said.
Colwood Mayor Rob Martin agrees that having a project like this on federal lands brings extra challenges. “But challenges doesn’t mean no, it just means there’s work to be done,” he said.
The idea of gondolas excites Martin, as he had previously suggested something similar between Metchosin Road and the waterfront.
He said he would bring Pearce’s letter to council, but his energy and focus is currently working with the Ministry of Transportation on a feasibility study for the West Shore passenger ferry.
“But I would love to see the beginnings of the discussions around does it make good economic sense for a gondola as well,” Martin added.
There is currently no cost information available as a feasibility study would still have to be done.
CFB Esquimalt indicated, however, that the route would create complications by travelling over its property, raising concerns.
“CFB Esquimalt is aware of the gondola proposal,” the base wrote in a statement issued to CHEK News. “An initial assessment highlighted a number of security and operational concerns as the suggested routing would bring users over secure Base property.”
CHEK News did reach out to the Department of National Defence for a comment but did not receive a response back as of Tuesday evening.
Mackenzie Read
