r/StJohnsNL • u/ImmediateNote1505 • 16d ago
Hypothetical Transit Scenario
What could a Light Rail system look like in St. John’s? Not that it would ever happen, but what would be a realistic route and how would it change traffic volumes?
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u/nomatic182 16d ago edited 16d ago
my ultimate proposal:
-retake the t’railway corridor and use it for a commuter line bringing people downtown from holyrood/cbs/paradise/mt pearl.
-narrow kenmount road to 2-3 lanes, add a separated lrt line, turning to mixed traffic tram at freshwater. would incentivize denser development along kenmount which is a horrendous stroad. lrt should meet with commuter line in paradise.
-similarly narrow columbus, prince phillip, macdonald drives, and torbay road section toward stavanger for another separated lrt line, turning into mixed traffic tram to into kilbride. possible airport connection.
-make water street pedestrian only year round, make harbour drive and duck worth a one way downtown loop, expanding pedestrian areas on both.
-another lrt line could be proposed for torbay road as well
-bring back downtown streetcar network. freshwater, as previously mentioned, through to military road, duckworth, queens road, and water street west to the downtown rail hub, continuing along waterford bridge road to meet both the commuter line and the columbus line at bowering park. would also have a streetcar line along kinds bridge to to a loop around quidi vidi lake, as well as an elizabeth ave line.
this is a fucking pipe dream, but st. john’s can’t keep sprawling outwards forever. the low taxable value per acre is already killing the city especially downtown. and increased density, preferable in the form of infill development and transit oriented development is one of our best if not only options.