An alternative solution for Sound Transit‘s light rail extension in West Seattle could be an urban cable car. At an estimated 64 million euros per mile, it is significantly cheaper than its competitor at 600 million euros per mile.

One advantage is the small amount of space needed to build a cable car and the low noise pollution. Construction of this ropeway could also start as early as 2022-2023, making it a faster solution than the light rail extension. This is attractive to many and one of the reasons the project is finding so much support. 

Urban cable cars have yet to catch on in North America, but Martin Pagel, one of the founders of West Seattle SkyLink, is confident that will change.

A group of dedicated West Seattle neighborhood activists hope their plan for a cable car will get the attention of regional transportation planners and Sound Transit‘s board of directors.

They hope to lead to a shift away from the planned light rail to an embrace of urban gondola technology, to relieve the growing traffic congestions in the area and protect the environment for a sustainable future.