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Concept Overview: updated: 01/24/2007
This project has been proposed by Mayor Matthew Godfrey in conjunction with developer Chris
Peterson’s building of the proposed Malan’s Basin Development & Mountain Gondola and the Mt.
Ogden Golf Course and Housing Development as integral pieces to create a unique competitive
advantage for Ogden City by connecting the downtown area (including the Inter-modal Hub, the new
Commuter Rail system and The Junction Mall Area) to Weber State University and the proposed
mountain resort.
The current conceptual proposal, as described by Mayor Godfrey, defines the Urban Gondola project
as a project designed to create an economic advantage for Ogden using a Gondola (or Aerial
Cableway) System as a transportation mechanism to connect the downtown to Weber State University
and then connect directly into Chris Peterson’s proposed Mountain Gondola and Malan’s Basin Project.
The Urban Gondola is a technology that runs approximately 14 miles per hour and has a wait time of
less than 30 seconds between gondola cars. The current verbal consideration from the Mayor is that
the Urban Gondola would travel at approximately 40 feet in the air utilizing a single structural pole to
accommodate gondola cars moving in both directions and running along one side of 23rd Street from
the Inter-modal Hub (stop #1), stop at The Junction Mall-site (stop #2), continue to travel up 23rd Street
to Harrison Blvd (stop #3). and then South to Weber State University (stop #4), where it would connect
to the Mountain Gondola.
The Urban Gondola concept was originally included as part of an Aerial Cableway Connector Feasibility
Study and a UTA Corridor Study proposing a route, number of stops and a mode of transportation to
connect the downtown area with Weber State University and McKay-Dee Hospital as a mass transit
corridor.
Note - The following is a list of important information that is related to this issue or project and are
accurate to the best of my knowledge. I will add to this list as new information becomes available.
Important Information:
Proposed Benefits:
The Urban Gondola Project is expected to...
1) Assist in re-establishing Ogden’s economic base – In order to strengthen the city’s economic
base, we must be able to attract industry into Ogden City. “The Ski Hub Concept” is bringing ski
industry companies into Ogden and the proposed Urban Gondola together with the Malan’s Basin
Resort & Mountain Gondola project has been a big part of projecting that concept to potential
companies. So far 8 ski companies have moved to Ogden, with the 8th company, Amer Sports, bringing
the corporate offices for brands such as Atomic and Solomon.
2) Have no operational cost to the taxpayer – The Urban Gondola is proposed to be operated
completely by Mr. Peterson as a condition of the development of the Malan’s Basin Resort and Mountain
Gondola. Mr. Peterson would reap any reward and operational costs, and the Ogden taxpayer would
not bear the burden of future financial risk. The terms or length of that agreement have not yet been
set.
3) Fulfill many public transportation needs – The Urban Gondola will meet many of the downtown to
Weber State University transit corridor needs by creating a direct and easy link from commuter rail,
downtown recreation, downtown business, downtown urban housing directly to Weber State University.
4) Will create a true competitive advantage in attracting business to Ogden – The Urban Gondola
would be the only aerial cableway system in the entire country connecting a medium metropolitan
downtown directly with a Mountain Recreational Resort. The unique nature of the project is expected to
give Ogden City an advantage in attracting businesses of all kinds to the city.
5) Keep tourist parking downtown when using the Mountain Gondola link – The Urban Gondola is
proposed to begin at the inter-modal hub in downtown Ogden and link directly to the proposed Mountain
Gondola. Tourists would be able to park at the Inter-Modal Hub, instead of somewhere in the east
bench neighborhoods and at Weber State University. Inter-Modal Hub parking is proposed to be
expanded as demand for additional parking requires it.
6) Require no road expansion or loss of current driving lanes – Because the Urban Gondola is
aerial transportation it will only require a 30” to 40” diameter pole to one side or in the middle of the
proposed corridor spaced evenly along the corridor. To my knowledge, no road improvements would be
required to implement the project.
7) Run by electrical motor – The Urban Gondola technology runs using electrical power, reducing
potential gas emissions that would exist when using most land based transportation such as automobiles
or buses.
Anticipated Costs and Impacts:
The Urban Gondola Project...
1. Is proposed to be partly funded by taxpayer dollars – The Urban Gondola is proposed to be
funded in part from the proceeds of the proposed Mt. Ogden Golf Course sale. The exact cost has not
been determined. New taxes will not be assessed.
2. Will not meet all of WRC’s transit corridor recommendations – Based upon the corridor study, the
chosen mode of transportation for the downtown Ogden/Weber State University corridor should also
extend to McKay-Dee Hospital and stop on Monroe & 23rd, instead of Harrison & 23rd. The study
recommends the aerial cableway (gondola) as the 3rd best option from a mass transit perspective.
3. Creates Gondola cars above Ogden streets – The lifted nature of the Urban Gondola could have
problems
I believe the potential economic benefits of re-establishing Ogden’s economic base (The Ski Hub
Concept) and bringing new money into the community through tourism are extremely appealing.
However, there are still many pieces of this project that are yet unknown and more information required
before decisions can be made.
To offer feedback please click here.
Other Information Sources:
Council’s Fact Sheet (Not yet Available)
Ogden City Administration’s On-line Presentation
Ogden City Administration’s Frequently Asked Questions
www.liftogden.com (Pro-Gondola Citizen Group)
www.smartgrowthogden.org (Citizen Group Apposed to the Development)
This project has been proposed by Mayor Matthew Godfrey in conjunction with developer Chris
Peterson’s building of the proposed Malan’s Basin Development & Mountain Gondola and the Mt.
Ogden Golf Course and Housing Development as integral pieces to create a unique competitive
advantage for Ogden City by connecting the downtown area (including the Inter-modal Hub, the new
Commuter Rail system and The Junction Mall Area) to Weber State University and the proposed
mountain resort.
The current conceptual proposal, as described by Mayor Godfrey, defines the Urban Gondola project
as a project designed to create an economic advantage for Ogden using a Gondola (or Aerial
Cableway) System as a transportation mechanism to connect the downtown to Weber State University
and then connect directly into Chris Peterson’s proposed Mountain Gondola and Malan’s Basin Project.
The Urban Gondola is a technology that runs approximately 14 miles per hour and has a wait time of
less than 30 seconds between gondola cars. The current verbal consideration from the Mayor is that
the Urban Gondola would travel at approximately 40 feet in the air utilizing a single structural pole to
accommodate gondola cars moving in both directions and running along one side of 23rd Street from
the Inter-modal Hub (stop #1), stop at The Junction Mall-site (stop #2), continue to travel up 23rd Street
to Harrison Blvd (stop #3). and then South to Weber State University (stop #4), where it would connect
to the Mountain Gondola.
The Urban Gondola concept was originally included as part of an Aerial Cableway Connector Feasibility
Study and a UTA Corridor Study proposing a route, number of stops and a mode of transportation to
connect the downtown area with Weber State University and McKay-Dee Hospital as a mass transit
corridor.
Note - The following is a list of important information that is related to this issue or project and are
accurate to the best of my knowledge. I will add to this list as new information becomes available.
Important Information:
- This proposal also includes two other components (I will be addressing these separately) that are
touted by the developer and Mayor Godfrey as critical components of the project’s success
because they would create a unique connection between downtown, a world-class golf course
and the mountain resort. The other components are:
- The Malan’s Basin & Mountain Gondola Development which includes the development of a
Mountain Gondola from Weber State University to a new all-year, auto free recreational
resort in Malan’s Basin. - The Mt Ogden Golf Course Development which includes a high-end housing development
and a redesigned and rebuilt Mt Ogden golf course.
- The details of Chris Peterson’s proposal have not yet been formalized with the city. The proposal
is currently only a conceptual plan. (NEW - 01/02/2007) The Council staff has prepared a
gondola comparison of several cities as a part of our due diligence process.
- The City Council & Administrative staff are currently working on a comprehensive education, input
and action project plan. Currently the project plan includes a general process outline and a more
detailed stake holder's process chart. The project plan is being called Discovery Ogden.
- Independent of the City Council, Mayor Godfrey announced his intent to pursue the Mt. Ogden
Community Plan and has outlined the process the Administration will follow for the public input as
follows: click here for the process.
- The City Council has not yet received a written proposal concerning the Urban Gondola, but have
received a formal public presentation and have had opportunity for various informal question and
answer sessions with Mayor Godfrey or Administrative Staff concerning the project.
- The City Council will need to go through a legal public process to at least approve the following
actions at sometime in the future before this project can become a reality:
- Approval of the Urban Gondola as related to the master plan of the city.
- Formal allocation of any public funding proposed for use in the project
- Approval of any zoning changes or alterations in the right-of way to be proposed as a part
of this project.
- The Urban Gondola, with four stops, is proposed to cost between $20-$25 million dollars and take
less than 2 years to build. The original configuration outlined by the Wasatch Front Regional
Council was estimated at approximately $40-45 million. The Council has not yet received a
detailed cost estimate.
- Mayor Godfrey has suggested that the proceeds from the sale of the Mt. Ogden Golf Course
combined with private funding be the proposed funding source to build the Urban Gondola.
- It has been proposed that Ogden City own the Urban Gondola, but the full operation of the Urban
Gondola be contracted out to Chris Peterson. According to Mayor Godfrey, Mr. Peterson would
bear all cost of operation and take any revenue generated. The city would not bear any of the
operational costs of the project.
- The proposed fare for the Urban Gondola from downtown to Weber State University would be the
same as a standard UTA bus fare.
- Mayor Godfrey has clearly indicated that the need for the Urban Gondola is primarily economic,
and relates to the potential of Ogden as a Ski Hub and suggestions from several private
companies that have indicated economic interest in our city if an Urban Gondola and associated
Mountain Gondola and Malan’s Basin Resort are built.
- Although the purpose for the Urban Gondola has been clearly stated by Mayor Godfrey as
economic development, it could also fulfill some of the mass transit needs outlined in a corridor
study done by UTA in October 2005.
- The corridor from Ogden downtown to Weber State University studied by WRC in October 2005
analyzed the potential of an Urban Gondola as a mass transit mode of transportation. The
following facts apply:
- The study did not consider the economic potential of the Urban Gondola for Ogden City,
but exclusively the mass transit needs of the corridor. - The study clearly validated the future need for a transit corridor between the downtown,
Weber State University and McKay-Dee Hospital. - The Gondola ranked an overall 3rd as the recommended best mode of transportation.
- The corridor route up 23rd Street and then along Harrison Blvd was recommended as the
2nd best route in the study. - The study recommended 5 stops and the Mayor is recommending 4 stops in the Urban
Gondola proposal. - The Urban Gondola is proposed to stop on 23rd and Harrison, instead of 23rd and Monroe
as recommended in the UTA study. - The Urban Gondola is not proposed to stop at McKay-Dee Hospital as recommended in the
UTA Study.
- As proposed, the Urban Gondola will not meet all of the mass transit needs outlined in the WRC
Corridor Study, but it would meet many of them. Other recommended options could be pursued
in addition to the Gondola. No additional proposal has been presented by the City Administration
to fill any gaps in transportation along the corridor.
- The following local organizations have come out in support of the proposal: The Chamber of
Commerce and The Ogden Golf & Country Club.
- The following local organizations have come out in opposition of the proposal: The Sierra Club
Proposed Benefits:
The Urban Gondola Project is expected to...
1) Assist in re-establishing Ogden’s economic base – In order to strengthen the city’s economic
base, we must be able to attract industry into Ogden City. “The Ski Hub Concept” is bringing ski
industry companies into Ogden and the proposed Urban Gondola together with the Malan’s Basin
Resort & Mountain Gondola project has been a big part of projecting that concept to potential
companies. So far 8 ski companies have moved to Ogden, with the 8th company, Amer Sports, bringing
the corporate offices for brands such as Atomic and Solomon.
2) Have no operational cost to the taxpayer – The Urban Gondola is proposed to be operated
completely by Mr. Peterson as a condition of the development of the Malan’s Basin Resort and Mountain
Gondola. Mr. Peterson would reap any reward and operational costs, and the Ogden taxpayer would
not bear the burden of future financial risk. The terms or length of that agreement have not yet been
set.
3) Fulfill many public transportation needs – The Urban Gondola will meet many of the downtown to
Weber State University transit corridor needs by creating a direct and easy link from commuter rail,
downtown recreation, downtown business, downtown urban housing directly to Weber State University.
4) Will create a true competitive advantage in attracting business to Ogden – The Urban Gondola
would be the only aerial cableway system in the entire country connecting a medium metropolitan
downtown directly with a Mountain Recreational Resort. The unique nature of the project is expected to
give Ogden City an advantage in attracting businesses of all kinds to the city.
5) Keep tourist parking downtown when using the Mountain Gondola link – The Urban Gondola is
proposed to begin at the inter-modal hub in downtown Ogden and link directly to the proposed Mountain
Gondola. Tourists would be able to park at the Inter-Modal Hub, instead of somewhere in the east
bench neighborhoods and at Weber State University. Inter-Modal Hub parking is proposed to be
expanded as demand for additional parking requires it.
6) Require no road expansion or loss of current driving lanes – Because the Urban Gondola is
aerial transportation it will only require a 30” to 40” diameter pole to one side or in the middle of the
proposed corridor spaced evenly along the corridor. To my knowledge, no road improvements would be
required to implement the project.
7) Run by electrical motor – The Urban Gondola technology runs using electrical power, reducing
potential gas emissions that would exist when using most land based transportation such as automobiles
or buses.
Anticipated Costs and Impacts:
The Urban Gondola Project...
1. Is proposed to be partly funded by taxpayer dollars – The Urban Gondola is proposed to be
funded in part from the proceeds of the proposed Mt. Ogden Golf Course sale. The exact cost has not
been determined. New taxes will not be assessed.
2. Will not meet all of WRC’s transit corridor recommendations – Based upon the corridor study, the
chosen mode of transportation for the downtown Ogden/Weber State University corridor should also
extend to McKay-Dee Hospital and stop on Monroe & 23rd, instead of Harrison & 23rd. The study
recommends the aerial cableway (gondola) as the 3rd best option from a mass transit perspective.
3. Creates Gondola cars above Ogden streets – The lifted nature of the Urban Gondola could have
problems
I believe the potential economic benefits of re-establishing Ogden’s economic base (The Ski Hub
Concept) and bringing new money into the community through tourism are extremely appealing.
However, there are still many pieces of this project that are yet unknown and more information required
before decisions can be made.
To offer feedback please click here.
Other Information Sources:
Council’s Fact Sheet (Not yet Available)
Ogden City Administration’s On-line Presentation
Ogden City Administration’s Frequently Asked Questions
www.liftogden.com (Pro-Gondola Citizen Group)
www.smartgrowthogden.org (Citizen Group Apposed to the Development)
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Malan's Basin Development - Urban Gondola
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