A New York developer is proposing building several urban cable car lines between Brooklyn and Manhattan in order to stem the growing congestion of the subway lines that run through the heart of the city.

The idea of an urban cable car in New York is not new. The Big Apple has actually had its own Aerial Tramway since 1976: The Roosevelt Island Tramway – notably renovated by the French company POMA in 2010 – connecting Manhattan to Roosevelt Island, crossing over the East River, running parallel to the Queensboro Bridge.

Will there Be a New Cable Car System in New York? The East River Skyway

Daniel Levy proposes realizing the East River Skyway today in order to counter the strong growth in the use of mass transit. As the ICI Radio-Canada website reports, the neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens have seen significant demographic growth. Between 2010 and 2013, the population of Brooklyn has increased by nearly 100,000 inhabitants – of course not without consequences on the transportation network, with numerous subway stations overburdened during peak hours.

Three Phase Plan for the Lines – The East River Skyway

Outlined in three phases, the project plans for three new cable car lines, which would serve a large part of the west bank of the East River (7 stations) and the eastern shore of Manhattan. The project is based around three stations connected to the local subway network: one located near the United Nations, one at the exit of the Williamsburg Bridge and one nearby South Street Seaport.

As far as the numbers are concerned, the East River Skyway plans for a cabin that would be available every 45 seconds, with a transportation rate of 70,000 to 90,000 people per day. This is a lot more than the subway, which transports daily around 30,000 travelers. The cost of the project is estimated at between $75 and $125 million for each of the three phases.

The City of New York said it was very interested in the proposal.

In France, at the same time, the Bouygues Constructions/BMF group has just put out an RFP for the construction of the first new generation urban cable car in France, which will allow for crossing the Penfeld.

What are some of the pros and cons of aerial transport for New York City? Are there cable cars in the city you live or have you used one before? What is your experience with cable cars? Share your stories in the comments below.

Original article, originally published in French, here.

Credits: Data and images linked to sources.