City Calls for Regional Transportation Plan

Mayor Dennis O’Keefe is emphasizing the need for a Regional Transportation Plan, as highlighted in the City’s ‘Budget 2013: Progressive City, Prudent Choices’.

“Anyone who commutes in and out of the City during peak morning and evening rush hours should fully appreciate the need for improvements to the road network,” says Mayor O’Keefe.  “And this situation is only going to get worse as residential and commercial expansion continues throughout the region.”

All the major trunk roads in the region are experiencing increased congestion due to growing traffic volume. Topsail Road, Pitts Memorial Drive, the Outer Ring Road and Kenmount Road are all becoming increasingly congested. Traffic on Thorburn Road, Torbay Road, Logy Bay Road and Portugal Cove Road is already becoming an issue and will undoubtedly become worse in the years to come as the region continues to grow at a rapid rate.

“The City of St. John’s is certainly prepared to step up and do its part,” says Mayor O’Keefe. “We have already agreed to accept sole responsibility for the Team Gushue Highway, which will benefit the entire region.”

“But St. John’s cannot, and will not, take on the burden of further expanding the regional road network,” he adds. “This is not a St. John’s problem, it is a regional problem, and it won’t be solved without regional cooperation and provincial government leadership.”

Budget 2013 calls upon the provincial government and municipalities in the region to begin dialogue towards a Regional Transportation Plan.

For further information:
Jennifer Mills
Communications Officer
City of St. John's
Phone: (709) 570-2037
Cell: (709) 690-7586
E-mail: jmills@stjohns.ca

Dennis O'Keefe
Mayor
City of St. John's
Phone: (709) 576-8477
Cell: (709) 685-5657
E-mail: dokeefe@stjohns.ca