[St. John's] Transport development (Highways, Airport, and Public Transit)

[Horsell]

I have not set foot on a bus since my school days...and that wasn't yesterday let me tell you. Perhaps I am not qualified to comment, however that hasn't stopped me in the past.

I agree with your "mini rant" on all counts, except maybe the lack of funding. I feel the funding is more than adequate however I question the efficient use of it.

Like you, I wonder why there aren't hubs with better amenities. The Avalon Mall, Village Mall and future hubs (MUN, Downtown...wherever) should be true hubs where you can wait for or transfer to another bus in comfort. Why not lease out space to enterprises to offer beverages and snacks and while you are at it, provide washrooms.

With a proper hub system perhaps some routes could be realigned so that they do go all over town and cross cross each other. I know it is inconvenient and time consuming to transfer however it is also poor rout planning to have buses go from one end of town to the other just to accommodate "single bus" rides.

End of my "mini rant"

[goodgrowth]

Originally Posted by Horsell

I have not set foot on a bus since my school days...and that wasn't yesterday let me tell you. Perhaps I am not qualified to comment, however that hasn't stopped me in the past.

I agree with your "mini rant" on all counts, except maybe the lack of funding. I feel the funding is more than adequate however I question the efficient use of it.

Like you, I wonder why there aren't hubs with better amenities. The Avalon Mall, Village Mall and future hubs (MUN, Downtown...wherever) should be true hubs where you can wait for or transfer to another bus in comfort. Why not lease out space to enterprises to offer beverages and snacks and while you are at it, provide washrooms.

With a proper hub system perhaps some routes could be realigned so that they do go all over town and cross cross each other. I know it is inconvenient and time consuming to transfer however it is also poor rout planning to have buses go from one end of town to the other just to accommodate "single bus" rides.

End of my "mini rant"

Admittedly I have not used the Metrobus a lot. But I did use buses everyday when I lived in other cities in Ontario. The biggest difference to me from observation is that lack of sheltered bus stops/dedicated hubs here. I'm not even advocating for "amenities". Just some areas that are built specifically for buses to access that have some enclosed shelters with basic seating that could hold 10-20 people.

I think the notion that you can just put buses on the road and not really put equal planning into the bus-stop aspect of it and still get decent ridership is not comprehensive thinking. Especially in Canada where we have inclement weather for half of the year.

Like why are we building these giant box centers without bus transit included as part of the planning? Am I completely mistaken or is the only bus shelter/stop in the entire Stavanger box store area the measly one on the side of the road near Staples? I mean come on..any other city that looked at that would not think St. John's is very serious at all about public transit.

[jthetzel]

Originally Posted by goodgrowth

Like why are we building these giant box centers without bus transit included as part of the planning? Am I completely mistaken or is the only bus shelter/stop in the entire Stavanger box store area the measly one on the side of the road near Staples? I mean come on..any other city that looked at that would not think St. John's is very serious at all about public transit.

I especially enjoy trying to walk from one box store to the box store immediately next to it. I recall after putting groceries into the car at Dominion one day, remembering I needed to pick up some cat food at the PetCulture store next door (since relocated to Hebron Way). Why drive, when I can just take a quick walk, I thought. No sidewalk, no cross walk, not even a path connecting the two parking lots. I had to crawl over a very small, somewhat rocky hill to breach the other lot. Felt like I was doing something illegal (maybe I was?) With the number of pedestrian barriers put in place at the Stavanger Box Lot, I am confident much planning went into its development.

[goodgrowth]

Originally Posted by jthetzel

I especially enjoy trying to walk from one box store to the box store immediately next to it. I recall after putting groceries into the car at Dominion one day, remembering I needed to pick up some cat food at the PetCulture store next door (since relocated to Hebron Way). Why drive, when I can just take a quick walk, I thought. No sidewalk, no cross walk, not even a path connecting the two parking lots. I had to crawl over a very small, somewhat rocky hill to breach the other lot. Felt like I was doing something illegal (maybe I was?) With the number of pedestrian barriers put in place at the Stavanger Box Lot, I am confident much planning went into its development.

Yeah and they wonder why there is so much congestion in that area. I think that if they had planned that area with public transit (aka bus) in mind they would have also been forced to make it more pedestrian friendly (more sidewalks, crosswalks...etc).

[delesseps]

From VOCM:

A St. John's city councillor is calling on the provincial government to spend the money and divide the highway as far west as Clarenville.

Sandy Hickman posted a tweet last week asking 'what is it going to take for the government to twin the highway from Whitbourne to Clarenville?' He also linked the premier to that post.

Hickman was reacting to a recent accident that claimed five lives near Chapel Arm. He says with all the work being done at Bull Arm, the North Atlantic Refinery and Long Harbour, it's too dangerous on that stretch of the TCH.

Anyone who wants the TCH twinned should be prepared to pay tolls on it. The last thing the province needs is more roadway to maintain using general revenues.

[Marty_Mcfly]

The TCH absolutely should be twinned from Whitbourne west to at least Clarenville. It's an absolute embarrassment that is already isn't.

And we've been down this road before. Federally funded highways can not be tolled. Tolling the TCH, if possible, would be robbery anyway considering there really isn't any other alternative to travel.

[delesseps]

Originally Posted by Marty_Mcfly

The TCH absolutely should be twinned from Whitbourne west to at least Clarenville. It's an absolute embarrassment that is already isn't.

And we've been down this road before. Federally funded highways can not be tolled. Tolling the TCH, if possible, would be robbery anyway considering there really isn't any other alternative to travel.

Highway 104 in Nova Scotia and the Port Mann Bridge in British Columbia are both part of the Trans-Canada Highway, and both tolled. Former Transport Minister Denis Lebel also said of the federally owned Champlain Bridge replacement, "Pas de péage, pas de pont," i.e. "No toll, no bridge." There is, of course, no federal money forthcoming at this time, so it's a moot point, but I suspect any attempt by the federal government to stop a provincial government from tolling a provincial highway would be ruled ultra vires.

[delesseps]

Metrobus is requesting feedback on a new route proposal in its Idea Centre. Here's what I posted:

The new route seems excessively indirect, and I believe requiring passengers to cross Portugal Cove Road to access CNA, and Higgins Line to access the Confederation Building poses an unnecessary safety risk. Instead, I would prefer to see Route 17 extended through the summer to provide service to the Confederation Building and the CNA Prince Philip Drive campus, and have the new route travel directly from Portugal Cove Road to Logy Bay Road along Newfoundland Drive. This would provide faster service from the east end to the Marine Institute and MUN.

[rthomasd]

Goulds Bypass cancelled by Budget 2016, $23 M to continue Team Gushue Highway Extension

[jjavman]

Originally Posted by rthomasd

Goulds Bypass cancelled by Budget 2016, $23 M to continue Team Gushue Highway Extension

I hope they cover up the bare rock left by the incompletion.
Especially south of Topsail Rd.
Maybe a wall or trees?

[J_Murphy]

Originally Posted by rthomasd

Goulds Bypass cancelled by Budget 2016, $23 M to continue Team Gushue Highway Extension

I never did understand the need for this road anyway. There already is a Goulds bypass road.

It's actually called the Robert E Howlett Memorial Drive Extension Project.

[Offshore1]

Originally Posted by J_Murphy

I never did understand the need for this road anyway. There already is a Goulds bypass road.

It's actually called the Robert E Howlett Memorial Drive Extension Project.

The now cancelled Goulds Bypass Extension would have been more accurately called the Middle Pond Bypass as it would have diverted traffic away from the thinly populated area just south of Bay Bulls Big Pond.
I'm not sure when the city limits extended beyond Big Pond but the speed limit is 60Km/Hr in most of the area - with somewhat frequent speed traps by the RNC Km/Hr - resulting in long lines of traffic with commuters going to and from St. John's. If my memory serves me correctly the speed limit used to be 80 Km/Hr on Route 10 until you reached Bay Bulls Big Pond
A separate stretch of road would have been welcome relief, but it was pretty much a pie in the sky anyway - considering how long it's taking to complete the Team Gushue Highway.

[jjavman]

Originally Posted by Offshore1

The now cancelled Goulds Bypass Extension would have been more accurately called the Middle Pond Bypass as it would have diverted traffic away from the thinly populated area just south of Bay Bulls Big Pond.
I'm not sure when the city limits extended beyond Big Pond but the speed limit is 60Km/Hr in most of the area - with somewhat frequent speed traps by the RNC Km/Hr - resulting in long lines of traffic with commuters going to and from St. John's. If my memory serves me correctly the speed limit used to be 80 Km/Hr on Route 10 until you reached Bay Bulls Big Pond
A separate stretch of road would have been welcome relief, but it was pretty much a pie in the sky anyway - considering how long it's taking to complete the Team Gushue Highway.

Maybe I did not understand the press release? Did it not say construction was canceled South of Topsail Road? I assumed this to mean the portion of TG Extension that would have been served by dual overpasses by Dodge City, and proceeding to the end of the RE Howlett.

If this is not the case then that is good.

[J_Murphy]

Originally Posted by jjavman

Maybe I did not understand the press release? Did it not say construction was canceled South of Topsail Road? I assumed this to mean the portion of TG Extension that would have been served by dual overpasses by Dodge City, and proceeding to the end of the RE Howlett.

If this is not the case then that is good.

Hopefully with the $23M committed to continue the project they can get it open to Topsail Road sooner than later. I would like to see the collector at Pennywell opened too but that still needs a lot of work, so I won't count on it.

[J_Murphy]

https://t.co/NVVwoMVRXy

List of all work to be tendered this year. All I see for TGH extension project is Blackmarsh Road underpass.

[jthetzel]

At City Council on Monday, the Bike St. John's Task Force will recommend allowing bicycles on the loop trail around Quidi Vidi beginning May 19. Page 91 of http://www.stjohns.ca/sites/default/files/files/agenda/Regular_Agenda_May%2016%2C%202016%28R%29.pdf .

[jthetzel]

Originally Posted by jthetzel

At City Council on Monday, the Bike St. John's Task Force will recommend allowing bicycles on the loop trail around Quidi Vidi beginning May 19. Page 91 of http://www.stjohns.ca/sites/default/files/files/agenda/Regular_Agenda_May%2016%2C%202016%28R%29.pdf .

Motion failed. A mixed-use trail pilot program is a touch too provocative for current Council. Voting in favor were Lane, Sandy, Ellsworth, and Pudd the Stud.

https://twitter.com/HappyCitySJ/status/732305751146934274

[Copes]

Originally Posted by jthetzel

Motion failed. A mixed-use trail pilot program is a touch too provocative for current Council. Voting in favor were Lane, Sandy, Ellsworth, and Pudd the Stud.

https://twitter.com/HappyCitySJ/status/732305751146934274

Not surprising, but disappointing. If we can't get a mixed-use trail, I worry about how much this Bike Task Force is actually going to get done. They can make all the recommendations they want, but if council is going to shut them all down then its going to get very frustrating very quickly.

[rthomasd]

At a recent public meeting for the Blackmarsh Rd water-main replacement project, I noticed some detail on the plans for the Team Gushue Highway extension interface to Blackmarsh Rd ( round-about) . Took a couple of pics, posted below.

I also see that the Gov't have issued a tender for additional drainage on the TGH near the Kenmount Rd. so it looks like there may indeed be some progress ( Budget 2016 says $ 23 M allocated for TGH ).

[Offshore1]

The drawing says the roundabout being " by others". It's unclear to me what the $23 million is to be spent on this year - where's the progress?
Despite some public criticism of this highway being built, to me it's desperately needed to ease traffic congestion in the city. It should be considered for Federal funding as Trudeau had alluded to funding projects that are "shovel ready" to help Alberta and Newfoundland deal with the effects of low oil prices.
This project is more than shovel ready, more like ready, willing and able - it just needs cash.