Council hits gas pedal for new Metrobus depot

St. John's city council has given the green light to a new depot for its fleet of buses, with a proposal that will overhaul the Metrobus service.

Construction at the new depot site, near Kenmount Road, is expected to start in the spring. The estimated project cost is $34,205,586, council was told in a memo tabled at Monday evening's council meeting.

St. John's is contributing $8.2 million toward construction. The city obtained $26 million from a federal capital fund for transit.

Coun. Tom Hann said the new facility, which will be able to house 64 buses, will meet international eco-friendly building standards. The site will involve increased energy efficiency, water savings and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Metrobus currently has 53 buses in services. Hann said the new site will be able to "provide room for growth in the foreseeable future."

The existing Freshwater Road site has long been cited as being far too small for the bus fleet, and with a lot too small for buses to navigate easily for maintenance.