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I wonder what the ROI timeline would have been for a project to replace the tram road entirely with covered moving walkways. It just feels like what we're getting is a tremendously compromised, half-measure "solution" that doesn't actually fix the real, core problem—that trams are expensive to operate and maintain and CDL drivers are in short supply and demanding higher and higher rates because of that fact.

I suspect these headwinds are only set to increase too. It just seems like, at some point, it will have made a ton more sense for BGW to have invested in an actual, long-term, full, much-less-staffing-intensive, complete tram replacement project of some sort.

That is, of course, if this isn't just an attempt to make operating without trams entirely a way more common occurrence which... I guess we'll have to wait to see.
 
I wonder what the ROI timeline would have been for a project to replace the tram road entirely with covered moving walkways. It just feels like what we're getting is a tremendously compromised, half-measure "solution" that doesn't actually fix the real, core problem—that trams are expensive to operate and maintain and CDL drivers are in short supply and demanding higher and higher rates because of that fact.

I suspect these headwinds are only set to increase too. It just seems like, at some point, it will have made a ton more sense for BGW to have invested in an actual, long-term, full, much-less-staffing-intensive, complete tram replacement project of some sort.

That is, of course, if this isn't just an attempt to make operating without trams entirely a way more common occurrence which... I guess we'll have to wait to see.
It would be crushingly expensive.


Norfolk Airports tram (it’s 300 ft long IIRC) cost $6MM to do. If BGW did full length they would need 2100 ft.
 
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At this rate, just make a peoplemover. No worrying about cdl’s, just the platform people.
 
Do you mean the monorail that went to the brewery?
Well yes and also no, I know (have learned secondhand) BGW just used it just in the tour, but BGT actually used it as a people mover, I just think that it is a viable option in the sense of required man power, realistic costs, as well as it plays on the details cooperate company’s love to employ (environmentally friendly, practical, adds experience in a necessary expense).
 
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Does anyone know if there’s levels to CDL licenses?

Mostly asking because a full CDL is a problem and always will be. Would be nice if there was a limited or closed road CDL for the purpose of places like Hershey/BGW/Disney like trams. Of course employers paying for the license certainly helps.

I think some of the alternatives (people mover, flat escalators) would be too cost prohibitive IMO where there wouldn’t be a way to properly measure ROI. If they were to spend that much, they might as well relocate all entrance gate items to a completely new entrance in between EfP and Apollo to get it closer to the lower lots.

Frankly, BGWs whole entrance off the highway, parking toll station, and parking is a mess of a layout.
 
The biggest issue with cdl is the pains of acquiring it and maintaining it. The laws are always changing so this may not be accurate depending on the day but, but you have to take a very hard test along with a in person walk around test/road test. Then once you have it you have to maintain a yearly physical, a yearly eye exam, and retain your licensing. Plus once your a cdl holder, you are held to a higher standard, your alcohol legal tolerance is cut in half, you are held to a higher standard in the eyes of the law as far road violations (both of these hold true even in your off hours/ in your personal vehicle) all of that combined with the fact and if you go thru all of that you are now qualified to drive truck and can go off somewhere else and make 20/25+ dollars an hour. I have always wondered why they don’t figure out a way to put the tram on a closed circuit road but maybe that’s not enough and insurance requires the cdl ?
 
I gave the park grief over this on the survey I got the day after I went last weekend.
 
Investing in larger trams might help.
Wouldn’t even have to do this—the chance Sunliner trams can be configured to be longer by simply adding more middle cars. They could pull the middle car from 2 other trams and boom now you have almost double the capacity.
 
If they were ever to do some type of change, I would explore an option that allows for more teams if there’s a version that does not require a CDL. Would be nice if that exists.
 
The issue with driving a vehicle of that size is the number of people it carries. If there is more than I think 10(?) people in the vehicle it’s necessary for a CDL to be had.
 
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