AI workflow:Using transportation

Hello

I am making a management /simulation game with crowd and I want them to be able to use transportation, in my case a ski lift/gondala. I am still fairly new with AI, so wondered what the best workflow for this is. Should my AI switch to being purely animated once they enter the lift? Having each gondala interact with the AI (pathing and collision) whilst its moving seems like it could get very heavy, especially with multiple lifts and 100’s of AI.

Secondly how can I make it work with the pathing so the AI knows its cheaper to get a lift than walk?

What is the best practice for this kind of AI work?

Thanks very much

Tom

Just to add some more info and to give the post a bump:

I am familiar with the navmesh and movement cost but am unsure how to fit a lift into this system, less on a technical level but more the methodology behind it.

Any info is much appreciated.

Tom

I have managed to answer the 2nd part of my question on how to integrate it with nav mesh pathing.
Using a Nav Link Proxy you can connect to points on separate nav meshes to tell unreal they are connected. Meaning they will run to the bottom of the lift in order to get to a location at the top.