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Long-awaited project will eliminate bus lines
An article in the Summit Daily News, reported by Duffy Hays on March 14, 2006 is summarized below.
A modern, $17 million gondola to whisk skiers and riders to the Peak 7 and 8 base areas of Breckenridge ski resort has been on the town's wish list for more than 20 years, and is finally coming to fruition.
Resort operator Vail Resorts and the town of Breckenridge announced that construction of a four-stop gondola would begin this spring, with a completion date estimated for this coming Christmas [2006].
The gondola will be capable of carrying up to 3,000 passengers per hour from the free ski area parking lots downtown, with drop offs in Shock Hill and on to the Peak 7 and Peak 8 base areas. The ride from bottom to top will take about 7 1/2 minutes.
Today, skiers who want to park for free are compelled to park in town, well below the lifts, and hop shuttle busses for a winding trip up to the base areas. The idea of the gondola dates back over 20 years, and finally making its way to reality. The gondola project is one of the last major steps toward implementing a comprehensive development and transportation plan formalized by the town and Vail in May, 2002. The plan also outlined redevelopment of the Peak 8 base area, and expansion of the newer, Peak 7 base area.
The town of Breckenridge itself is in the midst of a sweeping transportation project that will re-route the majority of vehicular traffic way from the town's historic Main Street to Park Avenue where the free parking lots are located, and where the goldola's new terminal will be built.
The gondola will allow room for ski gear inside, rather than in carriers outside the cabin area. Vail resorts plans to operate the gondola both in winter and summer.
The ski area has guaranteed that it will provide 1,550 parking spaces "right around the gondola" said Roger McCarthy, co-president of the mountain division of Vail resorts.
Today, people park for free in the lots surrounding where the gondola terminal is to be erected. This may not be the case next ski season.
