ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The St. John’s Transportation Commission is looking at what’s needed to get a Metrobus route in the Southlands neighbourhood, with a stop in the retail area of Galway.
The idea was suggested during the round table at the regular council meeting on June 10. Coun. Wally Collins requested that council consider the addition of a Metrobus route to Southlands, particularly given the opening of Costco in Galway. The idea was referred to the commission for review and consideration.
Mayor Danny Breen said it’s something the city has been thinking about for “a while”.
A few years ago, there was a Metrobus route to the Southlands neighbourhood in St. John’s on a trial basis, but the ridership wasn’t high enough to maintain the route.
Breen said that’s changed.
“The feeling is especially with the development in Galway that bus service to both Southlands and Galway is something to look at now. …There’s a lot of families now where kids are beginning to get to the age to go to university, and there’s other demands for public transit in the area, so I think now’s the time to have a good look at it and hopefully to make it work.”
He added there may also be increased demand for the route from employees who will be working in the stores moving into Galway, notably Costco which is set to open June 27.
Before the area can get a bus route, however, Southlands Boulevard needs to be connected out to Galway – work that’s expected to be completed this fall.
“Once that’s done, then we can probably look at a pilot project out there to see how the demand is.”
Breen said it’s probably the only area in the city that doesn’t have Metrobus service.
There’s no set timeline on when the trial route can be expected.
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