Photo source: Wikimedia
At its July 14 meeting, the Transportation Authority Board gave first approval of the Laguna Honda Gondola Feasibility Study Final Report, with final adoption on July 28. The study found that an aerial gondola connecting Forest Hill Station to the Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center is technically feasible, but that enhancing the existing shuttle service and implementing transportation demand management strategies would be a more cost-effective way to serve the hospital's future growth and access needs.
Transportation Authority Board Chair Myrna Melgar (District 7) requested the study, which evaluated the feasibility of a potential gondola system to improve access and connectivity between the Muni Metro Forest Hill Station and the hospital in light of planned growth. The Transportation Authority led the study in coordination with the San Francisco Department of Public Health and the SFMTA.
The study team analyzed existing conditions and travel demand, evaluated six potential gondola alignments, and compared the gondola concept to the existing shuttle service at the Laguna Honda Hospital.
The study found that:
- A gondola at this location is technically feasible
- Capital and operating costs are significant for serving projected ridership with a gondola, in comparison with lower-cost mobility services such as shuttles and transportation demand management strategies.
- While a gondola would provide significantly more capacity, a shuttle system would generally be able to serve planned growth in Hospital trips more cost-effectively, though peak-hour conditions may warrant additional shuttle services.
- The study can be a potential reference for longer-distance gondola planning elsewhere in San Francisco in the future.
The study was funded by the Prop L transportation sales tax.
Read the Laguna Honda Gondola Feasibility Study Final Report (PDF)
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