Gondola Prefeasibility Study

In May 2008 the City of Rossland completed its Strategic Sustainability Plan, the result of a two year community based process to develop a long term Community Vision. In October 2008, the City adopted a new Official Community Plan developed in parallel with the Strategic Sustainability Plan. As part of the Vision to Action process a Community Design Charette was held in 2007. During the charette, a long held desire for a gondola connection between the Rossland town centre and the ski area was raised and discussed. The City of Rossland has had a long-standing policy of promoting four-season tourism as a means for economic diversification and in 2007 the City was designated as a “Resort Municipality” by the provincial authorities. In 2008, the City received a grant to complete a gondola prefeasibliity study.

In December 2008, Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners Ltd., of Whistler British Columbia, Canada and Doppelmayr/CTEC of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada were retained to undertake a pre-feasibility study of the connection. The primary objective of the study is to assess the technical feasibility of the connection and
identify the constraints and benefits of the development of a gondola for the City of Rossland. As part of this study Ecosign and Doppelmayr have taken into consideration the following factors:

1. Existing and future land uses at Red Mountain Resort (RMR) and in the Rossland Downtown and Midtown areas. 
2. Opportunities for improvements to the existing skiing, hiking and cycling trails between RMR and the City. Other all season uses of the lift were also considered. 
3. Preliminary technical feasibility of the connection including terminal siting options, road crossings, tower locations, capacity and system configurations, equipment selection and geo-technical implications. 
4. Economic considerations including capital and operating costs, potential revenue sources. Economic benefits 
5. Land ownership and regulatory approvals.

A copy of the DRAFT Gondola Prefeasibility Study is available by clicking the links below.  The documents are large so please be patient!