We support solving challenges aligned with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ohlone Sky proposes a privately funded aerial gondola connecting Pier 24 to Yerba Buena and Treasure Island in San Francisco.
This is more than an aspirational transit vision for the Bay Area. It's achievable, sustainable, and self-supporting from tourism. To be clear, it offers exceptional and timely transit to arterial housing developments.
Aerial gondolas are ideal because they require minimal land resources, are quick to build and offer high-frequency service. They are climate-friendly, and when powered by renewables, entirely carbon-free. It complements existing transit and can accomodate induced demand with no aditional resources.
Note: It does not cantilever off of the Bay Bridge. Two pylons (cable support towers) will be built into the bay between Pier 24 and Yerba Buena Island.
Treasure Island is undergoing a major revitalization, with up to 8,000 new homes planned. Ohlone Sky is designed to meet the island’s growing transit needs, offering a scenic, zero-emission alternative to driving. By expanding mobility, we can help transform Treasure Island into a thriving, well-connected neighborhood.
Ohlone Sky is designed for scale from day one to serve an estimated two million plus roundtrip riders annually, including commuters, visitors, and the future residents of Treasure Island. It offers fast, car-free access to jobs, retail, and all San Francisco transit options.
The Pier 24 station is steps from the Ferry Building, downtown, and our iconic cable cars—not to mention all other locales along the waterfront. This is built for the daily needs of a growing, connected city.
Service operates daily, with cabins arriving every 30 seconds. The full ride takes just twelve minutes—board and go. A detailed schedule will be announced closer to launch.
The ride is smooth, quiet, and designed for comfort. Cabins are fully ADA accessible, stroller- and bike-friendly, and easy to board for people of all ages and abilities. 3S gondolas are built to operate reliably in fog, rain, and harsh weather, including high winds. Operators typically suspend service only during sustained winds over 30 miles per hour—not due to safety concerns, but because cabin movement can become uncomfortable for passengers.
I am able to take a wire and go into the air and define the air without stealing it from anyone. A line can enclose and define space while letting the air remain air.
~ Ruth Asawa
As of summer 2025, the estimated project cost is $325 million, capital will come primarily from bond financing, backed by private investors and repaid through project revenue, including fares and sponsorships. Operations and maintenance will be covered entirely by fare revenue, making Ohlone Sky self-sustaining from day one. There is no burden on taxpayers.
Ohlone Sky sets aside 10% of its annual revenue to nourish what moves us most: the communities we live in, the climate we share, and the cultures that shape us. As a certified B Corp, we see transit not just as a path from here to there, but as a thread that binds purpose to place. This is movement with meaning designed to move society forward.
We acknowledge the Ramaytush Ohlone people, who are the traditional custodians of this land. We pay our respects to the Ramaytush Ohlone elders—past, present, and future—who call this place, the lands that this project sits upon, their home. Ohlone Sky takes its name in recognition of that history—a gesture of respect, not replacement.
Locally, Oakland has the Oakland Zoo Gondola (see below). San Francisco sports a one-cabin system to Salesforce Park. In Napa, Sterling Vineyards lays claim to "the only winery in the world with an aerial gondola." In Oregon, the Portland Aerial Tram connects South Waterfront to Marquam Hill. In New York, the Roosevelt Island Tramway connects the Upper East Side to Roosevelt Island.
Meanwhile in Paris, Câble C1 is nearing completion. The busiest system worldwide is Mi Teleférico in La Paz, Bolivia, with over 300,000 passengers daily.
The Ohlone Sky aerial gondola system includes cables, stations, pylons (support towers necessary for proper tension and cable height), and gondola cabins. Cabins are suspended by cables and mechanically detach in stations to slow for boarding. As they reattach, they accelerate for the journey across the Bay.
Ohlone Sky proposes a Tricable Detachable Gondola (3S) system—the most advanced available—using three cables for support and movement.
Note: It does not cantilever off of the Bay Bridge. Two pylons (cable support towers) will be built into the bay between Pier 24 and Yerba Buena Island.
The Gondola Project, ISR, and Liftblog are excellent sources. For an in-depth read, see the WTPPJ issue on aerial cable cars (Nov. 2023).