'Become less car dependant': How could Halifax fix its traffic troubles?
Traffic gridlock is common on the routes to and from peninsular Halifax. Whether it's a collision or construction, delays can put a strain on the daily commute.
“I haven’t been into the city of Halifax, downtown, for years,” says Bedford resident Donald Snow.
Snow moved to the area in 1960, and as a member of the RCMP, he knows the roads well.
“The highways here can’t control the amount of traffic we have using the roads at the present moment,” Snow says.
As population growth prompts development further from the city centre, the existing routes are often clogged during the morning and afternoon commute, and there aren’t many alternatives on and off the peninsula.
It’s a problem some say will only get worse as the province sets its sights on a population of 2,000,000 by 2060.
“The largest thing is really to plan for the future,” says Guy Deveau, the interim CEO of the Joint Regional Transportation Agency.
“If we are going to double the population and have that amount of movement required, we are really going to have to rethink how this is done and hopefully we are going in the right direction.”
Deveau, who also has a role with the Nova Scotia Public Works Department, says there are also short-term solutions on the go.
“The department is currently building a new highway 107 Sackville, Bedford, Burnside connecter. This will result in increased safety and reduce travel times,” he says.
Halifax councillor Tony Mancini says the municipality must “become less car dependant.”
Mancini, who just came off the city’s transportation standing committee, says the goal is to have fewer vehicles entering the peninsula, not more.
“The challenge is that the transit system has to be more reliable than it is right now,” said Mancini. “We’ve switched on the ferry to every 15 minutes. We need to look at adding a third ferry that will come from Bedford and eventually Bedford Shannon Park and downtown Halifax,” says Mancini.
It's a ferry service that has been talked about for years, and is still years away.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Millions of cyberattacks per hour as B.C. government investigates multiple breaches
Careful attention to government statements and legislation is required to get a handle on the level of risk British Columbians’ information is under, as investigators probe multiple breaches under a continued barrage of attacks.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
New 'Lord of the Rings' film coming in 2026
The Oscar-winning team behind the nearly US$6 billion blockbuster 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies is reuniting to produce two new films.