Albany

Commuter woes are an all-too-familiar lament in the Capital Region — whether it's limited bus service or disjointed and unpredictable taxis, but a proposal to construct a gondola over the Hudson River aims to sooth some of these concerns.

A study completed by the McLaren Engineering Group and its partners determined building a gondola to provide easy access to and from the Albany-Rensselaer Train Station to downtown Albany is feasible and would have minimal impact on the environment, according to a news release Wednesday.

The privately funded study identified a one-mile long corridor that would begin at the Amtrak Station and head west across the Hudson River to a proposed station on South Pearl Street near the Times Union Center. The gondola would continue to the Empire State Plaza in phase II of the project.

The engineering group estimates 825,000 people arriving and departing the station each year could benefit from the gondola. The Rensselaer train station is Amtrak's ninth busiest location.

While area residents are skeptical of the practicality of the project, the idea of constructing a gondola earned positive remarks from local and federal officials.

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said it could be an economic engine for the city as a possible attraction in and of itself, while also improving transportation in the Capital Region.

"It's the economic development potential that is really an interesting part of this in that it makes it more convenient for people to access the city," she said. Plus, it could cut back on carbon emissions with fewer people using cars and cabs. "I hope this is a more environmentally friendly way to get people across the river, and also is more affordable."

The first phase of construction is estimated to cost between $17 million and $20 million, with annual operating costs at about $2.4 million. The second phase could be an additional $10 million. Costs would be offset by a mix of private funds, passenger ticket revenue, advertising and public funds, developers said.

The next step would be securing funding, said Peter Melewski, national director of strategic planning for the engineer group. Nothing has been secured, yet.

More Information Read the gondola feasibility study here. See More Collapse

"We've been talking to a number of private firms that do funding, or may be interested in being involved," he said. "Our primary goal is to fund the project with as much private funding as we can."

Sheehan said it was too early to speculate on public sector funding, but noted she liked the project because it's seeking private funding. The city could apply for state grants for the project, she added.

Melewski said they also aim to do more research on ridership and the economic development impacts the project could have on the region.

If funding can be secured by next June, general construction could begin in April 2018 and the gondola would be fully operational by December 2019.

Operating 16 hours a day, seven days a week, in most weather conditions, the gondola could initially accommodate 1,200 people per hour, according to the engineering group. Gondola cars would arrive every 30 seconds travelling at a speed of 14 miles per hour, making the trip from the train station to downtown Albany just over four minutes long.

"In addition to solving the transportation system (issues), it will be a reason for visitors to come and stay longer in Albany and Rensselaer," Melewski said.

afries@timesunion.com • 518-454-5353 • @mandy_fries