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

[Townie709]

Originally Posted by techie

This is what should happen. However, u-turns are legal here, just not commonly used. The olny place they are illegal is when a "no u turns" sign is posted.

Really?! My whole life is a lie!! I honestly thought they were illegal. But if Youre wrong and i get a ticket, I know who to blame

[jeddy1989]

Airport Talks Back On

No word on whether Federal Labor Minister Lisa Raitt had a hand in it, but talks between striking airport workers and the St John's Airport Authority resumed today. Federal Mediator Barney Dobbin has recalled both sides to the table, and all have agreed to a media blackout. That means neither party will be available for comment until the talks conclude. Raitt flew into the Capital City yesterday, going through St John's International where the striking workers have their picket lines set up, something NDP MP Jack Harris says was disrespectful to the workers who are on a legal walkout to back demands for a new contract. Harris and Ryan Cleary refuse to go through St John's Airport, instead commuting through Gander and driving to their ridings on the Avalon. But Raitt says there's no reason not to use St John's International. Raitt says the airport continued to operate during winter storms and things seem to be working. But, Raitt says a deal needs to be made and in order for that to happen the two sides need to be at a table negotiating. Raitt says the federal government is doing all they can to help the workers get back on the job. She says they have mediators

http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?...31053&latest=1

[jjavman]

Originally Posted by jeddy1989

Airport Talks Back On


http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?...31053&latest=1

unfortunately they are off again ...see here ...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfou...-down-302.html

[Marty_Mcfly]

What's the current status of the Team Gushue Highway? Will there be paving in the spring?

[rthomasd]

Originally Posted by Marty_Mcfly

What's the current status of the Team Gushue Highway? Will there be paving in the spring?

The Team Gushue Highway extension is scheduled for 2014 completion. However I think that's overoptimistic. There's been no contract let for the over/under passes and given the time it's taking similar overpasses (THE overpass) to be done, I don't expect completion in 2014.

I'd be happy if the Topsail Road to Kenmount Road section was opened first and the Mount Pearl section can wait. Seems the roadbed work is now shutdown for the winter, or so it seems.

[SignalHillHiker]

You better believe the Mount Pearl section can wait. Until they pay for it.

[Chew]

So speaking of Team Gushue - does anyone know how it will pass through the Brookfield Road area? In the only map I can get my hands on (a very poorly-detailed PDF on the gov't site) it looks like it just takes over Brookfield Road. I use that road daily and it would be really too bad if it was no longer a road to link between the Bowring Park area and Commonwealth Avenue.

Anyone have any more details or a better map?

[rthomasd]

Hi, this isn't directly related to local transport, but is interesting -

I came across an article
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/st...ng-routes.html

that says there'll be North Pole Shipping routes with regular open-water (blue) ships traveling between Rotterdam, The Netherlands and St. John's, N.L., in the years 2040-2059.

At what point do planners tune into the trans-shipment, crew-change, vessel repair opportunities this might present to St. John's. Perhaps a serious look at a development for Freshwater Bay with a tunnel connection? How about some progress on Tom Kierans' plan for South Side Hills (tunnelling for storage, etc )?

[Townie709]

Originally Posted by rthomasd

Hi, this isn't directly related to local transport, but is interesting -

I came across an article
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/st...ng-routes.html

that says there'll be North Pole Shipping routes with regular open-water (blue) ships traveling between Rotterdam, The Netherlands and St. John's, N.L., in the years 2040-2059.

At what point do planners tune into the trans-shipment, crew-change, vessel repair opportunities this might present to St. John's. Perhaps a serious look at a development for Freshwater Bay with a tunnel connection? How about some progress on Tom Kierans' plan for South Side Hills (tunnelling for storage, etc )?

Horray for global warming! All my years of not recycling are paying off

Although, I don't know where we are going to find space for an port-industry explosion. We're jam packed as it is! Hopefully, by 2040 we will have the industrial port moved to CBS so we can accomodate the international attention!

Like someone said a while back, St. John's has huge potential to become a major hub in arctic exploration.

What was Tom Kierans's plan for the SS hills?

[rthomasd]

Originally Posted by Townie709

Horray for global warming! All my years of not recycling are paying off

Although, I don't know where we are going to find space for an port-industry explosion. We're jam packed as it is! Hopefully, by 2040 we will have the industrial port moved to CBS so we can accomodate the international attention!

Like someone said a while back, St. John's has huge potential to become a major hub in arctic exploration.

What was Tom Kierans's plan for the SS hills?

Tom Kierans wanted to tunnel out the SS Hills, tunnel to Freshwater Bay for a new port, large storage areas, a Rock-Arena (Mile one), expensive housing on top, accessed by underground parking and elevator, etc.

[Townie709]

That sounds like the best possible solution to our "tight space" problem, and a world class development. If that was done 40 years ago, it would have payed for itself 10 times over by now and made that side of the harbour so much more vibrant. Today, as unfortunate as it may be, I cannot see this ever happening. There would be too much opposition and complaints about "wasting money". It seems like the time of radical, far-fetched ideas is long gone and we are afraid to think outside the box. Can anyone even think of the last innovative thing this city did?

I can't either. There is no vision for our city. Just boring politicians in it for the money and social status. the people running the city also have no expertise whatsoever in urban planning, which is stupid IMO. I want us to have a visionary leader who will take us back to the times of thinking outside the box, and I can't think of one currently on council who matches that description. (Jeddy, you better have that changed in 10 years time, haha!)

Take the mayoral race for example. One candidate says "Let's do business with everyone!" the other says "Let's draw pretty pictures". There is no talk of proper urban planning, innovative ideas, or making this city a better place to live. Sometimes it seems like even the people running the city have given up on it. I want that to change.

[AnUrbanLife]

Looks like they are going to start to remake the Goulds, with the installation of gutters, curbs and sidewalks. This is going to take a gigantic amount of money.

If you were in charge of remaking this neighbourhood what would you do first?

Here's the link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfou...013-03-06.html

[Townie709]

Well right now, they are only installing sidewalks and a new storm sewer system on the main highway through the Goulds and it's only supposed to cost 3.2 million. I wouldn't say much more than that will be done in the Goulds in the near future.

[AnUrbanLife]

Originally Posted by Townie709

Well right now, they are only installing sidewalks and a new storm sewer system on the main highway through the Goulds and it's only supposed to cost 3.2 million. I wouldn't say much more than that will be done in the Goulds in the near future.

Yeah, sorry, I wasn't very clear. This 3.2 million is for a really small section of the neighbourhood and if this is just the start of bringing the Goulds up to the same level of service as other areas, than it is going to cost much more.

I guess I was wondering if now might not be the best time to plan a functional neighbourhood like pleasantville, before all this money is invested. Or do we think that the Goulds is simply to far away from the central concentration and that all development in this area should be stopped so as not to divert funds from more productive areas of town. IE Bring them up to code so to speak but stop all expansion until a later date.

[rwspencer38]

Originally Posted by Chew

So speaking of Team Gushue - does anyone know how it will pass through the Brookfield Road area? In the only map I can get my hands on (a very poorly-detailed PDF on the gov't site) it looks like it just takes over Brookfield Road. I use that road daily and it would be really too bad if it was no longer a road to link between the Bowring Park area and Commonwealth Avenue.

Anyone have any more details or a better map?

I can't supply a map although I have access to one. However, the the highway will run alongside brookfield road up to just past the cold weather research farm. It will then create an overpass as it links up the highway that already exists.

[Chew]

Originally Posted by rwspencer38

I can't supply a map although I have access to one. However, the the highway will run alongside brookfield road up to just past the cold weather research farm. It will then create an overpass as it links up the highway that already exists.

Thanks!

Are you allowed to share the map or is it internal/private?

If you could share, even a cell phone picture would be great if it showed more detail than what is on that PDF. If you can't, I totally understand.

[AnUrbanLife]

Question for ya'll

If Metrobus offered transit to the airport would you use it or not?

[Trevor3]

Originally Posted by AnUrbanLife

Question for ya'll

If Metrobus offered transit to the airport would you use it or not?

When I was a student in St. John's, I was very disappointed to learn that Metrobus did not serve the airport. I kind of assumed, being a small town person, that a city would have all of its transport infrastructure linked up... but no.

Off to City Wide's limo service it is.

[jeddy1989]

Originally Posted by AnUrbanLife

Question for ya'll

If Metrobus offered transit to the airport would you use it or not?

What usually happens when I travel is a family member gives me a drive to the airport and picks me up if it's not too late so I don't have to fool around with the taxi situation. However if that wasn't possible for some reason I'd so use metrobus if it connected to an efficient system


Just having a rough look at possible alternatives

The bus system concept I designed would take about 33 minutes to get from the airport to the stavanger hub then express DT then 4 mins on the feeder to my house .. however lets be conservative and say 40-45 mins

Lets say there is an express or semi express from the airport to downtown (this would serve tourists and if you use my system concept it would be THEE major hub ..) lets say it take 20- 25minutes to get to the DT hub due to it being a semi express and stopping at the holiday inn and sheraton on the way or something.. then 4 minutes from the hub so about 30 minutes

this may be ideal for me but not for everyone

NOW

lets look at how the current system would work

it would take me 1 hour and 10 minutes and the next option would be 2 hours and 4 minutes .. both of which involve walking to the end of the entrance of the airport and then some walking before I get to the house.


These are only rough numbers and are theoretical however you can see how better transit would actually make you think hmmm $2.25 and it takes me 35-45 minutes to get home or $40ish to drive direct ..

as opposed to right now.. $2.25 1 hour 10 minutes to get home (depending on the timing and the connections change) or $40 to go direct

[AnUrbanLife]

I would certainly use transit to and from the airport if it were available even if it took an hour vs. 30 minutes by cab or pick up, but that's just me and I certainly take your point Jeddy that if our transit system were more efficient it would become a viable alternative for many more people.

I'm asking if people would use a public transit option, even a slow one, if it were available because I'm currently in conversation with the General Manager for Metrobus, Judy Powell, and in our email dialogue she mentions that the main reason for not providing this service is that there is no demand for it.

She has stated that they receive maybe one or two suggestions a year for service to the airport, meaning virtually no interest, and that it would in effect be financially ruinous.

I was kind of shocked, I always take transit when I fly to other cities, even in L.A the most car centric place on earth, I take the Bus to the light rail station.

I'd like to start a letter writing campaign to get the question of Would you like a public transit option to and from the airport? put on the ballot of the municipal election to gauge support for this sort of thing.

What do you guys think? A waste of time, or would you want transit to go to the airport?