There’s word this morning that the idea of a Rosslyn-Georgetown gondola might not be as dead as we first thought.
Just over four years since the Arlington County Board said it was “not in favor” of the $80-90 million project, which always seemed to be more attractive to Georgetown business interests than to those on the other side of the river, a D.C. Council member is raising the hopes of the gondola’s cult-like following with a new funding request.
Per the Washington Business Journal’s Alex Koma:
For the first time in a long time, we’ve got a 🚠🚠 GONDOLA ALERT🚠🚠@brookepintodc is asking for money in 2022 to revive the project. I’m skeptical it happens, but at the least, I’m sure my old pals in the @ARLnowDOTcom comment section will be excited.https://t.co/hkJUS98F7I pic.twitter.com/J4vDDa6zGG
— Alex Koma (@AlexKomaDC) March 26, 2021
While the idea of aerial lift transportation from Manhattan on the Potomac directly to the Exorcist steps — not to mention the sweeping views in between — may make gondola advocates giddy, the initial estimate of $3.25 million in annual operating costs puts a damper on the chances of it actually happening.
Nonetheless, should Councilmember Brooke Pinto’s proposal go through, purchasing the former Exxon station and completing an Environmental Impact Study would eliminate major hurdles to the gondola project moving forward. Next stop: getting Arlington County elected officials to climb on board.
What do you think of this latest gondola news?
(If you can’t see the emojis, here is the key: 1 = happy, 2 = unhappy, 3 = shrug.)
