Wynn Resorts proposes gondola system to link casino and Assembly Row instead of a footbridge

EVERETT — Is the lure of Wynn Resort’s Everett casino enough to take a gondola across the Mystic?

Even before the Encore Boston Harbor got off the blueprints, there had always been an idea of constructing a footbridge between the casino and Assembly Row, not only to connect the two developments but to provide both T riders and cyclists easy access to both sides of the Mystic River.

Recently, however, Encore officials have been mulling the idea of transporting workers and guests through the air instead, by investing in a gondola system instead of a bridge.

“I’ll say I’d do the gondola," said Colleen Bowes of Somerville. “Yeah, it would just be nicer.”

But Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone has voiced strong opposition to the idea. On Facebook, he posted: “There is a hard no from our standpoint. Of all the things I figured I’d never need to address in public life, gondolas have to rank near the top of the list.”

He’s not alone. Mayor Curtatone prefers the footbridge that has long been proposed, saying its practicality outweighs aerial cable-cars.

“That would be actually interesting but I think the footbridge would be faster," said Dave Sandelin of Somerville.

Encore says the idea is just preliminary, saying they agree a footbridge would be nice but that a gondola system would be cheaper.

“Our primary goal on any initiative that connects Somerville and Everett is to provide viable transportation options for our employees and guests.”

—  Encore Boston Harbor

“If you just need to get across a river, build a bridge," Mayor Curtatone said. "This isn’t rocket science.”

Local officials have long defended the idea that a footbridge would benefit the community more than a gondola by providing everyone a means to cross the river, not just Encore workers and guests.

“I feel like there would be a lot more people from here going over there on a footbridge than taking a gondola,” said Clive Oram of Somerville.

In 2018, Wynn Resorts agreed to pay for a study of a footbridge and even discussed the possibility of paying for it, estimating it would cost about $23 million.

According to the Boston Globe, officials in Everett have asked the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for $200,000 to study the gondola system proposed by Wynn Resorts, acknowledging that while they hope both projects could become a reality, Wynn would only help pay for one.

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