TD_washingtonredskins Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 This seems like it would be so cool to do in a few different areas. To me, any time that you have a lot of people routinely crossing a body of water, all options should be on the table. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/05/28/d-c-has-taken-a-step-to-link-georgetown-and-rosslyn-via-overhead-gondola/?hpid=z3 When Joe Sternlieb first stumbled across a gondola in Portland seven years ago that was transporting passengers up a steep grade to a medical campus, he thought the unusual mode of transportation could be used in D.C. to carry people over the Potomac River between Georgetown and Rosslyn. Tucked within the $13 billion spending plan the D.C. Council passed Wednesday is $35,000 to conduct a study to determine if a gondola makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinInsite Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 They need to build more bridges across the Potomac so 495 doesn't turn in to a **** show everyday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesMadisonSkins Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 I'm fine with this. Looks like it's right next to the Key Bridge so it would be a Rosslyn-Georgetown deal ... I view it as more of a tourist attraction than anything else though. Not sure how many people would use it to commute? Unless this Gondola goes beyond just the bridge, and carries people further into Georgetown and Arlington. That would be cool as hell. It takes about 6 minutes to walk across the Key Bridge. So unless people want to take this in the event of rain, I don't see it as much of a "commuter" vehicle ... rather a tourist thing. They really need to work on building a bridge across the potomac to connect the Ashburn area to Maryland ... that would ease a LOT of traffic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Don't a ton of airplanes come down the river channel heading for National Airport? I know they are supposed to come in much higher, but could that be a concern? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD_washingtonredskins Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 I'm fine with this. Looks like it's right next to the Key Bridge so it would be a Rosslyn-Georgetown deal ... I view it as more of a tourist attraction than anything else though. Not sure how many people would use it to commute? Unless this Gondola goes beyond just the bridge, and carries people further into Georgetown and Arlington. That would be cool as hell. It takes about 6 minutes to walk across the Key Bridge. So unless people want to take this in the event of rain, I don't see it as much of a "commuter" vehicle ... rather a tourist thing. They really need to work on building a bridge across the potomac to connect the Ashburn area to Maryland ... that would ease a LOT of traffic. I think any type of alternative way to navigate the rivers (in many locations) would be smart. Ferries, gondolas, etc. would be pretty cool. If there's a place to use them to get to stadiums, arenas, museums, etc. it could be helpful. For this article specifically, I think it's OK if it is catering primarily to tourists considering there is a constant stream of those year-round in DC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGoodBits Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Don't a ton of airplanes come down the river channel heading for National Airport? I know they are supposed to come in much higher, but could that be a concern? You should be a part of the feasibility study. They'll pay you $35k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No Excuses Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 This is a fairly stupid idea. Rosslyn to Georgetown is such an easy walk. Can they pay me $35,000 to tell them, as someone who lived in Rosslyn for 4 years that a gondola is not necessary. At all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesMadisonSkins Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Don't a ton of airplanes come down the river channel heading for National Airport? I know they are supposed to come in much higher, but could that be a concern? No. The planes aren't nearly as low as you think around that point. From the images, the gondolas might not be much higher than the Key Bridge, if at all ... so they wouldn't even be close. There are constantly helicopters flying up and down the river at relatively high altitudes at the same time planes are making their approaches ... the planes are still way up there.e Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD_washingtonredskins Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 This is a fairly stupid idea. Rosslyn to Georgetown is such an easy walk. Can they pay me $35,000 to tell them, as someone who lived in Rosslyn for 4 years that a gondola is not necessary. At all. What about the concept itself (maybe applied to other local areas over water)? There must be several different sites in the DC area where something like this would be beneficial, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesMadisonSkins Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 This is a fairly stupid idea. Rosslyn to Georgetown is such an easy walk. Can they pay me $35,000 to tell them, as someone who lived in Rosslyn for 4 years that a gondola is not necessary. At all. My in-laws are down in Rosslyn so I've been down there quite a bit lately. I've been walking/running the key bridge a ton in the last month ... and at the MOST it takes 5-6 minutes to traverse it walking. That's why I think it's gotta be a tourist deal. Either that, or they would look to extend the gondola further into Georgetown and points into DC, maybe along rooftops or along M Street ... to allow for an "above-ground, scenic" way into the city that keeps traffic off the roads. Otherwise, no, you're right, zero impact on daily commuters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerPacker Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Can't we just set up a zip line? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
China Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Ha ha, when I read the title this is the type of gondola I pictured crossing the Potomac: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD_washingtonredskins Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 That's what I thought as well when I read the headline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corcaigh Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Is this a smokescreen to hope people will forget about the streetcar fiasco? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesMadisonSkins Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Is this a smokescreen to hope people will forget about the streetcar fiasco? No, because this is a DC driven project, it seems. Also, attended a candidate forum recently for the Arlington County Board ... some interesting/hopeful thoughts on the future of Columbia Pike. Streetcar might be dead, but the ideas to improve that corridor are not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.A.C.O.L.B. Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Hopefully they provide fully working MOPP level 4 suits and protection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Ha ha, when I read the title this is the type of gondola I pictured crossing the Potomac: [picture of Venice] By the way, just to be a jerk and derail the thread.... we are doing a house swap with a family in Venice for 17 days in a couple of months. Can't wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
China Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 By the way, just to be a jerk and derail the thread.... we are doing a house swap with a family in Venice for 17 days in a couple of months. Can't wait. A lot of great stuff to see in Venice. After walking across it it becomes immediately evident why they call it the Bridge of Sighs. I also had the good fortune to have dinner at the home of someone who lived in a palace on the Grand Canal. My first experience with real Italian food. Molto bene. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elessar78 Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Seems inefficient to tote over commuters or tourists two at a time. What a waste of tax dollars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
China Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Seems inefficient to tote over commuters or tourists two at a time. What a waste of tax dollars. I imagine it would look something like this: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor703 Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 By the way, just to be a jerk and derail the thread.... we are doing a house swap with a family in Venice for 17 days in a couple of months. Can't wait. Ugh so jealous. My family is from Reggio Calabria and I've yet to go. Have fun buddy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elessar78 Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 I can already envision the indifferent Metro Gondola pilot rolling their eyes at tourists trying to use their farecards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcsluggo Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 No. The planes aren't nearly as low as you think around that point. From the images, the gondolas might not be much higher than the Key Bridge, if at all ... so they wouldn't even be close. There are constantly helicopters flying up and down the river at relatively high altitudes at the same time planes are making their approaches ... the planes are still way up there.e Don't a ton of helicopters come down the river channel avoiding planes from National Airport? I know they are supposed to come in much higher, but lower than airplanes and spyrays, but could that be a concern? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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