Palm Springs Aerial Tramway To Reopen April 1 After Near Two-Month Closure

PALM SPRINGS (CNS) - Following a near two-month closure and almost $4
million in repair costs and lost revenue, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is
poised to reopen a week from today (Tuesday).
   The tramway has been closed since a Feb. 14 storm saturated the area
and washed out some streets, including Tramway Road, the main route to the
aerial attraction.
   ``While the tramway was on track for record attendance in fiscal year
2018-19, it is estimated that nearly 100,000 visitors were displaced due to the
46-day closure,'' spokeswoman Cara Youngman said. ``The tram also estimates
that the incident resulted in almost $4 million in repair costs and lost ticket
revenues.''
   In addition to the washed-out roadway, the rain caused damage to the
attraction's main power line, along with the Valley Station water tank and
Mountain Station roof, Youngman said.
   Last month, the Mount San Jacinto Winter Park Authority approved
$351,071 to fund identified repairs, while also setting aside up to $500,000
for other potential repairs, engineering and inspections, at the discretion of
the general manager. The authority also approved $300,000 to continue paying
the tramway's roughly 70 employees through April 1.
   ``We truly look forward to welcoming back tram visitors beginning
April 1st,'' Tramway General Manager Nancy Nichols said. ``Also, I wish to
extend a sincere thank you to the entire Tramway staff for their efforts during
our closure. And I'd like to offer a special thanks to our maintenance
department for their tireless repair efforts and to our security department for
their gracious greeting at our entry gate of disappointed patrons.''
   The tramway is the world's largest rotating tram car and was opened in
1963.