Air, rail or wheels, Ogden is looking at all of them and more.

Transit and city officials have a problem. When commuter rail is finished in spring 2008, they don't want those using it getting off at the end of the line asking, "Now what?"

City planners are considering several transit options to take commuters to and from the transport station. A recent meeting presented a study to decision-makers.

The study, paid for by Ogden, the Utah Transit Authority and the Wasatch Front Regional Council ranked streetcars as the best form of transit for Ogden. The gondola was ranked at two and a Bus Rapid Transit system was three. The study analyzed what would be best for Ogden's current economic situation and for the long term.

Cost wasn't considered in making the rankings, said Mick Crandall, UTA deputy chief for planning and programming, but it does come into consideration. City officials will have to look at what the FTA or Federal Transit Administration will fund.

"The first step is to ask what you want and then you have to ask what you can pay for," Crandall said.

"One of the things we went into the study looking at is what, from a transit point of view, makes sense, and what might the FTA and USDOT fund? And, how quickly. We concluded that the streetcar is something the federal government would consider funding," said Doug Hattery, transportation engineer for WFRC.

The streetcar is estimated to have the most per-day riders, up to 5,200. The gondola was set at up to 4,500 a day, and the Bus Rapid Transit system was estimated to have up to 3,700. UTA estimated that 500 to 1,000 of those riders would be going to Weber State University.

UTA also likes the streetcar option because of its potential, said a UTA public information officer. Light rail tracks could be built, and streetcars could run on them. Then, if Ogden could later support light rail, the tracks would already be in place.

Talk of the gondola has created a stir among some groups in the community. The concept has the support of some, including Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey.

Depending on the number of stops, the gondola would take about 20 minutes to get from the transit center to WSU.

Godfrey said the gondola would look similar to that operating from the base of Snowbasin ski resort. Because of cost, he sees the gondola as the only option.

"The streetcar's not going to happen. Where are we going to get over $100 million to build it and $10 million a year to run it?" he said. The gondola would cost $45 million to $50 million.

Some city leaders also see the gondola as boosting tourism for the city. Godfrey would like two, one for commuters and students, and a second that would go from WSU to Ogden Valley's resorts.