NWS aerial

The Grand Junction, CO-based Leitner-Poma of America (LPOA) -- the cable system designer that won the SIEDCs competition launched in January -- proposed aerial connections to Manhattan, Brooklyn and Bayonne. After a presentation by LPOA, the jury -- comprised of architects, engineers, planners, media and academics -- choose an Elm Park to Bayonne route. (Courtesy of LPOA)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation (SIEDC) looked to the skies for a solution to the borough's transportation issues, a Colorado-based company came up with a design for an aerial gondola that runs from Elm Park to Bayonne in six minutes.

The design by Leitner-Poma of America (LPOA) -- the cable system developer that won the SIEDC's competition launched in January -- created a design for a route that would connect commuters to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system on the New Jersey side.

According to the SIEDC, this would create a 33-minute commute from Staten Island to downtown Manhattan.

"The Leitner-Poma design was innovative and creates synergy between the West Shore Light Rail proposal, and our ultimate goal to connect Staten Island to the region," said Cesar Claro, president and CEO of the SIEDC.

"We envision this project to move forward simultaneously with the rail link. Stay tuned for more details to be announced next spring," he added, noting more about the project will be revealed at the SIEDC's spring conference.

DESIGN COMPETITION

The SIEDC's competition was for a design rendering and proposed route to get commuters to and from Manhattan.

After a presentation by LPOA, the jury -- comprised of architects, engineers, planners, media and academics -- chose the Elm Park to Bayonne route.

"We received three route submissions," said Alexandra Porto, SIEDC vice president of membership and outreach.

"This route was chosen because it was the most efficient in terms of system length, total cost and travel time. The other proposed routes were Fort Wadsworth to 95th Street in Brooklyn, and St. George to lower Manhattan," she added.





33-MINUTE COMMUTE



It's estimated that the trip from Elm Park to the World Trade Center PATH train would take 33 minutes with the inclusion of a six-minute gondola trip. Gondolas would depart every minute, according to the proposal.

The SIEDC is working to secure funding for a feasibility study of the project. While the project itself is estimated to cost $60 million, it would be constructed without public funds, according to the SIEDC.

The agency contends that aerial cableways, and specifically gondola systems, are quickly becoming a cost-effective, environmentally sustainable method of urban transportation across the globe.

Aerial cableways exist in various cities worldwide, including Rio de Janeiro and London.



LPOA won 20,000 worth of free publicity for coming up with the winning proposal.

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