What's Going Up in Boston's Seaport District?

The potential for a gondola system being installed in Boston's Seaport district is up for discussion to aid public transportation. The eccentric idea — in which thousands of commuters would glide from South Station to the Seaport each day in aerial, cable-propelled lifts — has recently picked up momentum. But how close is it to actually getting off the ground? And should it? Here’s what Boston.com shares so far:

Seaport gondolas have been bandied about before, but the latest iteration of the idea was first proposed last summer by Millennium Partners, the New York-based development firm behind other Boston properties, such as the Millennium Tower in Downtown Crossing.

Renderings by Handel Architects

Proponents of the gondola system envision a reality where commuters are carried several stories above the bumper-to-bumper traffic. Millennium Partners says it would carry 15,000 people a day along the mile-long stretch from South Station to a gondola station at the Marine Park. And despite the self-advantageous positioning of the final terminal, the company says it would be widely beneficial. The entire gondola system would consist of 70 individual cable cars running every nine seconds and capable of carrying up to 10 passengers, according to the Boston Globe.

Renderings by Handel Architects

Two highly cited examples of urban gondolas are in Medellín, Colombia, and Portland, Oregon (the latter of which is technically an aerial tram, not a gondola). However, both systems were constructed to address geography — rather than traffic — carrying passengers up steep hills. Similarly, the Roosevelt Island Tramway in New York has shuttled Metro riders back and forth across the East River from Manhattan for more than four decades.

More recently, Mexico City opened a seven-stop gondola to cut down commutes and connect poorer communities with the heart of the capital. As The New York Times reported at the time, the Mexicable has “brought new visitors, shorter commutes, a burst of street art and a new sense of inclusion” to Mexico City and adds to a growing number of cable car systems in Latin America.

Renderings by Handel Architects

But as for now, state and city transportation officials stress that the gondola idea is a preliminary concept for private transportation and that local agencies are looking at other alternative solutions to the Seaport congestion issue, such as dedicated bus lanes or bus rapid transit on Summer Street. MassDOT is also looking at a dynamic, $5 million traffic light control system in the Seaport, spokesman Patrick Marvin confirmed.

What a way to devour the details of public transportation; definitely an interesting concept to say the least! Aside of enhancing ones commute, we like the idea of riding these for fun too! For more information check out the full story on Boston.com.