'This is a really substantial change': Bumpy first day for 'buses only' on busy Halifax street
From his favorite coffee spot on Spring Garden Road - George Gillmore appreciates the efforts to make the street quieter.
But on day one, he's not sure those efforts are working, after spending two hours watching cars and trucks traverse the normally busy thoroughfare.
"They said no cars are coming up Spring Garden, but they are," says Gillmore. "So I just sit here and go, 'what's happening?'"he chuckles.
Apart from new traffic signs and two Halifax Regional Police officers posted at the intersections at Queen and South Park Streets, there were few other indications to drivers of the change on Monday.
As of July 4th, only municipal buses and bicycles are allowed on Spring Garden Road between 7 a.m., and 8 p.m., daily. Emergency vehicles are also permitted.
"HRP will be coming and going from the street," says Elora Wilkinson. "We're trying to find what the right balance is of resources."
Early in the day, Halifax officers were kept busy directing traffic, but they left by mid-afternoon.
Without any officials directing traffic, personal vehicles, taxis, and delivery vans returned to Spring Garden Road in short order, seemingly unaware of the new rules for the road.
Wilkinson says changing traffic habits will take time.
"This is a really substantial change," she says. "So it's going to take a little while for word to get out for people to understand what the new rules are and make adjustments to that."
Wilkinson says education is the main focus for both the city and police to start. She says fines for drivers who don’t heed the signs may come later, depending on how well residents adapt.
"I don't want to have regional police down here on traffic control every day, that’s a waste of police resources," says Sue Utek, executive director of the Spring Garden Area Business Association.
Utek says the association did highlight the upcoming changes to residents through a radio campaign and the distribution of flyers, but she still noticed a number of challenges come up on the first day.
Among them, she says, is trying to find a way to allow garbage collection on the street, since noisy trucks can't operate before 7 a.m., and then aren't allowed on the street after 7 a.m.
"The noise bylaw prevents solid waste garbage trucks from picking up here on Spring Garden [Road], so that's become an immediate issue for us this morning," says Utek.
Wilkinson says garbage collectors can use a trolley to collect garbage and take it to side streets where trucks are allowed to park for pick-ups and deliveries, a change that took effect last year.
"It would be similar to what they were doing last year during construction when the street was closed," she says.
After surviving pandemic shutdowns, continuing construction in the area, and current staffing shortages, long-time Spring Garden Road business co-owner Kurt Bulger is worried the change could keep customers away.
Bulger says he’ll know for sure in a few months, when he can compare sales figures for his independent store, Jennifer’s of Nova Scotia.
"Through the pandemic, it was borne out that 70 per cent of our business is locals. Now the tourists are back in town, so if we do 30 per cent of our business it means the locals are not coming down like they used to," says Bulger.
It’s a potential effect on his business’ bottom line that he hopes he doesn’t happen.
The changes to Spring Garden Road are in effect until 2023, but after the first six months the project will be evaluated with input from local businesses, pedestrians, and transit users.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Trial begins for Winnipeg serial killer who claims he was mentally ill
The trial of a man who admits he killed four women in Winnipeg is set to begin Wednesday, and a law professor says lawyers for Jeremy Skibicki have multiple hurdles to clear for a defence of mental illness.
New Canadian study could be a lifesaver for thousands suffering from CTE
A first-of-its-kind Canadian research study is working towards a major medical breakthrough for a brain disorder, believed to be caused by repeated head injuries, that can only be detected after death.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.