Detroit-Windsor Gondola proposal floated again?

**masterblaster** · February-09-23, 12:06 PM

See below link

https://detroitwindsorgondola.com/#

**401don** · February-09-23, 12:42 PM

Are you sure this isn't an Onion article?

**Henry Whalley** · February-09-23, 01:43 PM

IMHO a pretty cool idea. But where would it be located? And how much revenue per year would be required to break even? Priced at a one-way fare of $3.00 USD it would take a long while to pay for itself.

**expatriate** · February-09-23, 02:13 PM

Not sure how much it would relieve traffic congestion, but it would certainly be great fun and a tourist attraction, and could help local business on both sides.

**kuuma** · February-09-23, 02:20 PM

The pdf study shows a hypothetical gondola station at the foot of 375 and Jefferson with a direct connection to the RenCen's DPM Station. Connecting it to existing transit is what works for other cities with gondolas. Obviously none of us are looking at the hard numbers but we've all experienced idling at the tunnel or bridge gates to drive over to Windsor, and how much gas is guzzled in queues of a hundred cars waiting to go over the border.

Especially if you could take your Bike on the gondola like you can for Roosevelt Island in NYC, I bet this would be hugely popular for residents on both sides to pop over for an afternoon.

**southen** · February-09-23, 02:28 PM

I would 100% use it. There are designs for modern gondolas where the towers take on an almost sculptural feel to make an architectural statement which would make an interesting addition to the skyline. In terms of location it would be a mistake not to utilize the vacated Ford Auditorium site. It would be a short walk to the QLine, People Mover and Port of Detroit and bring more people to Detroit’s underutilized front porch.

I’d be shocked if it happens though.

**canuck** · February-09-23, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by masterblaster

See below link

https://detroitwindsorgondola.com/#

Detroit-Windsor Gondola Proposal Floated Again

Great title.

Let’s hope nobody mistakes it for a Chinese balloon on inaugural run.

**Richard** · February-09-23, 03:50 PM

When you read the feasibility study they say this

“Having said that, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel remains the only direct connection between Windsor and the downtown area of Detroit.”

Granted I do not live there as I am reminded of repeatedly,but I could have swore I read somewhere there was another bridge connecting Detroit to Windsor ?

https://detroitwindsorgondola.com/wp...la_reduced.pdf

If I was 20 years younger a zip line would be cool,but somehow I get the impression of cross border checkpoints simular to walking into Mexico,sometimes it is quick others it takes a long time waiting in line.

They are also putting a bike/pedestrian thingy on the new bridge to nowhere,would that not be in direct competition?

I still think it is better to twin span the other apparently non existent bridge and then do a joint venture with Canada and Ambassador and restore that one as a pedestrian/bike and future rail line.

**southen** · February-09-23, 03:58 PM

Nobody else would confuse downtown Detroit with Delray…

**Richard** · February-09-23, 04:13 PM

So would people go from downtown to delray to cross a 200 million dollar walkway/bike thingy?

Of course not,so no point in adding that 200 million to the cost,but sense you are going to pay for it,the question was,is it not in direct competition?

Like it or not you now have a vested interest in all of that,and have to be thinking about protecting that,if life was only that simple.

There is a map of its proposed location and everything relevant in the feasibility study,

It will be considered another international border crossing and have to go through all of that,highly unlikely by the 2024 date.

Who will use it? They appear to have factored in and counting on those who live in Windsor and work in Detroit and in having a park and ride,so if you are a nurse that lives in Canada and works in Detroit,for instance,are you going to park and ride on both sides?

I agree it is cool in a touristy sort of way,but really if you live in Detroit and say let’s jump in this thing and go to Windsor for the day will you be able to do it easier and faster then you can with a car?

By their own admission it drops off in a residential neighborhood on the Windsor side,the people in the neighborhood there might not like that and once to get off in that neighborhood,where you going to go? And are the neighbors willing to move so a customs place can be built?

**southen** · February-09-23, 05:59 PM

Your ability to overcomplicate an issue knows no bounds.

People wanting to recreate will use GH if they use it at all. A downtown gondola could cater to residents, workers and tourists who don’t want to deal with a car. Pretty simple to understand.

**canuck** · February-09-23, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by southen

Your ability to overcomplicate an issue knows no bounds.

People wanting to recreate will use GH if they use it at all. A downtown gondola could cater to residents, workers and tourists who don’t want to deal with a car. Pretty simple to understand.

He wuz pretty gung ho about turning the Eloise mental hospital into a paranormal theme park. That was a sensational project, attracting thousands for years to come. I guess he has his bearish mode turned on when a threat from those mean Canucks is imminent… or is it the fear of heights?

**Richard** · February-09-23, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by southen

Your ability to overcomplicate an issue knows no bounds.

People wanting to recreate will use GH if they use it at all. A downtown gondola could cater to residents, workers and tourists who don’t want to deal with a car. Pretty simple to understand.

It is simple to understand,the map shows and they admitted it drops off in a residential neighborhood in Windsor.

How many residents,tourists and workers live in that residential neighborhood where they do not need a car.

It’s different on the Detroit side because it centered on the PM and Qline.

Outside of that you are still going to need a car to get to it and when you get off of it.Where are you going to put a bicycle on it?

It’s also not that simple when you look at the bigger picture,you already are on the hook for a 5 - 8 billion dollar bridge on top of that 90% of the current projects that include prime property you,the taxpayers,will not see any corporate or property taxes from those projects for the next 20-30 years.

It is simple if you think about it,every project is increasing the tax obligation on the taxpayers while the resources available in order to offset those obligations are being systematically removed.

So is it really prudent to think of every possible way to add even more debt on the taxpayers by creating and supporting something that will directly compete against something you are already in debt for?

You keep making it personal,personally I do not care,my investments in Detroit are guaranteed by the taxpayers,no matter how much of a burden it becomes.

You are supposed to be making and supporting smart fiscal improvements that brings money into the city coffers without increasing the debt on an already overburdened taxpayer.

Something tourism related would be an investment but it also has a quick return,if you read the details in this they are basing the numbers off of the ambassador bridges web site.

That applied before the auto manufacturers announced they were stream lining production according to country,so you will not see a large part of the automotive manufacturers cross border traffic that you have in the past.

They are going to build cars in Canada for the Canadian market as a separate market.

So the numbers that they have provided are not accurate.

If it was really that simple,they have had 60 years to do it and have not.

If it was a profitable thing,the city of Detroit can pull a bond and build it themselves or sucker some Canadian taxpayers into it and split it,you can tell them it is free,if something makes fiscal sense the city can build it and use the revenues to fill the coffers.

They do have a donation button there,if you support it that much,you can donate to it,just check the refund policy in case it never comes to fruition.

**Richard** · February-09-23, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by canuck

He wuz pretty gung ho about turning the Eloise mental hospital into a paranormal theme park. That was a sensational project, attracting thousands for years to come. I guess he has his bearish mode turned on when a threat from those mean Canucks is imminent… or is it the fear of heights?

Big difference in supporting Detroit on getting into a trillion dollar a year tourist trade,there is a lot of money in it without spending a lot of money.

I am not going to be gung ho about cutting ones nose off to spite their face.

Just because Canadian taxpayers fell for the free 8 billion dollar bridge it does not meen Americans are all suckers.

The cost jumped 2 billion in less then 1 year and you guys did not blink an eye,I do not think Detroits taxpayers have those deep pockets that you guys do,so they have to keep an eye on the budget.

There is probably more Canucks down here in Florida right now then there is in Canada,seems like it anyways,I do not fear them,just not into moose oil or snake oil as it is referred to in this country.

Which brings up the next question,who takes care of your moose that you ride to get in the gondola? They are not big enough to carry a moose across the river,maybe they will put a stables next to the customs office,that somebody will have to convince the United States government to pay for,zero chance in that,but at least with a stable on Canadas side they can eat and relax while you spend a day at Detroits casino.

Good thing they do not have a casino in Windsor,gives Canuks a reason to jump on the gondola and hit up Detroits.

Good to see you are surviving the blast of climate change without freezing in place,I guess a nice warm moose is worth its weight in coal when it comes to keeping warm by snuggling up with one.

**Henry Whalley** · February-10-23, 06:07 AM

Originally Posted by Richard

It is simple to understand,the map shows and they admitted it drops off in a residential neighborhood in Windsor.

tldr

**Henry Whalley** · February-10-23, 06:09 AM

Originally Posted by Richard

Big difference in supporting Detroit on getting into a trillion dollar a year tourist trade,there is a lot of money in it without spending a lot of money.

tldr

**Danny** · February-10-23, 06:20 AM

OH NO! There goes the skyline.

**JBMcB** · February-10-23, 10:39 AM

Their proposal says the clearance under the cable car system will be 124', which is lower than the Gordie Howe's clearance of 138' [[and much lower than the Ambassador Bridge's ~150')

I assume they designed the Gordie Howe international bridge with the lowest possible clearance for modern freighters, so why is the cable car clearance lower? Seawaymax freighters can hit 116' over the water, which seems like it's cutting it awfully close.

**MarvelousMarvins** · February-10-23, 11:28 AM

Won't happen.
My dad was going to open to Detroit Windsor Ferry in the late 90's and had most approval, the issue was customs as you need to have customs on both sides and this was pre 9/11.

**401don** · February-10-23, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by MarvelousMarvins

Won't happen.
My dad was going to open to Detroit Windsor Ferry in the late 90's and had most approval, the issue was customs as you need to have customs on both sides and this was pre 9/11.

yeah it's a non starter for sure. Besides it might take passengers away from the empty tunnel buses.

**Lowell** · February-10-23, 01:41 PM

I would buy the first ticket. The joy ride and views alone would be worth the price especially if an ore boat happened to be transiting below. Entertainment riders alone might cover the cost.