Great Park visitors one day might get around using a new gondola-like transportation system that delivers aerial views, taking passengers from shops to the park’s famed balloon.
The Great Park Board on Tuesday, April 22, will consider approving a pilot project with Swyft Cities to build an autonomous elevated cable transit network, dubbed the Whoosh system, that could ferry passengers around the park.
While the Whoosh system resembles what one might see at a ski resort or an amusement park, it does many things gondolas cannot, said Leonard Lee, a spokesperson for the company.
Instead of vehicles attached to a continuously moving cable, the system licensed by the company uses electric vehicles that move independently along a network of fixed cables and rails, Lee said.
“This enables Whoosh vehicles to make turns and have every trip nonstop to any destination without any intermediate stops,” Lee said in an email. “Vehicles ‘pull over’ into stations, so vehicles are always waiting for you. While the initial operating segment will consist of two stations, Whoosh is designed to be easily expandable for future phases.”
A New Zealand-based engineering firm designed the system, which is licensed to Swyft Cities for the North American market.
The proposal before the board asks for approval to negotiate an agreement with Swyft Cities to donate the initial segment for the system with two stations, estimated to be worth $9.4 million. The agreement for the donation would be contingent on Irvine selecting the platform as the transit system for the Great Park.
The first segment built would take riders from The Canopy, a planned retail center adjacent to the park, to the park’s visitor center and balloon ride. The City Council on Tuesday is also expected to consider the project development agreement with Almquist Development and Investment for The Canopy project, which could be opened by late 2026.
Potential expansions of the aerial transit system could add several stations throughout the park, including a connection to the Irvine train station.
The advantages of the system are that it is modular, cheaper than other mass transit systems and is emissions free, according to a staff report. The system can easily bypass existing infrastructure on the ground and roads, helping keep installation costs down, city officials said.
The system has 70% lower operating costs than a traditional bus system while moving more passengers, city officials added.
The vehicles hold up to five people and can reach up to 30 mph. It is expected the system could accommodate more than 14,000 riders per day at the Great Park.
The Whoosh system has yet to be built elsewhere. Queenstown, New Zealand, is planning a pilot project of the first system by the company in 2026. Sugar Land, Texas, is also looking at building the transportation system.
If approved, Irvine officials will work out an agreement with Swyft Cities to take the donation. The donation would include installing the system and operation for a year, eight vehicles and free operation for three days a week.