Metrobus Transit Study.pdf - City of St. John's

St. John’s Transportation Commission (Metrobus) 2011
Market Assessment and Strategic Directions Study – Part D: Strategic Directions
18.0 REGIONAL TRANSIT
There is a strong case to be made for the extension of Metrobus service into currently unserved
areas in the greater St. John’s region. The suburban corridor consisting of Paradise and Conception
Bay South is the fastest growing area in the greater St. John’s urban area. Two thirds of population
growth in the Northeast Avalon Region between 2001 and 2006 occurred in Paradise and
Conception Bay South and such residential growth is expected to continue. At the same time,
employment opportunities and major community infrastructure is located in St. John’s. This creates
an increasing, car-oriented travel pattern between St. John’s and Paradise/Conception Bay South
(Unpublished Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Municipal Affairs Report, 2009).
While upgrades to the regional road infrastructure will help accommodate growth in these suburban
corridor communities, congestion levels can be expected to increase especially at critical locations
and intersections near major traffic generators. Parking supply issues will also become more critical,
particularly in downtown St. John’s and community goals to conserve energy, improve air quality
and reduce emissions will be impacted (Unpublished Newfoundland and Labrador Department of
Municipal Affairs Report, 2009).
Some of the more prominent existing regional roads include:
Outer Ring Road – Provides connections to most of the arterial roadways radiating away
from St. John’s and outlying communities.
Pitts Memorial Drive – Facilitates the movement of goods from the port facility in St. John’s
to the TransCanada Highway and industrial parks in Mount Pearl and Paradise. Could be a
candidate for express industrial service.
Kenmount Road – Major arterial for commuting traffic from Paradise and other areas to the
O’Leary Industrial Park and the Avalon Mall.
Topsail Road – Carries local and through traffic to Conception Bay South, Paradise, and
Mount Pearl.
There are also plans for major road network improvements. The Torbay Bypass Road will provide
for a faster connection between Torbay and the communities of Flatrock and Pouch Cove.
Conception Bay South Bypass Road will facilitate faster travel to the southern portion of the
Conception Bay South urban area. The connection of the Team Gushue Highway from Kenmount
to the Harbour Arterial provides an opportunity for faster regional express service that may be
worth exploring (Unpublished Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Municipal Affairs
Report, 2009).
The 2006 census data shows that there is a large movement of workers into St. John’s from
communities within the Northeast Avalon Region, as well as other communities on Conception Bay,
the southeastern coast of the Avalon Peninsula. There is also a large flow of workers into Mount
Pearl, most likely to industrial areas on the west side of Mount Pearl.
The introduction of regional transit service would play a significant role in addressing current
concerns and future growth pressures. Metrobus is ideally structured to take on a regional mandate
for transit service delivery. With the assistance of the province, local municipalities have been able to
achieve regional cooperation in the delivery of police, fire and water services, and based on
experience in other jurisdictions a move to efficient region-wide transit services would require some
Dillon Consulting Limited Page 105