The municipality is looking for contractors to install several “tactical” projects in Halifax and Dartmouth, according to tender documents posted Thursday.
Since the adoption of the Integrated Mobility Plan in late 2017, Halifax has been using pilot projects to test street design changes in the hopes of improving pedestrian safety. Those projects, sometimes referred to as “tactical urbanism,” include things like the new curb extensions around the intersection of Young, Kaye, and Isleville, or bump outs on Agricola Street at Charles Street or Ochterloney Street at Wentworth Street.
One of two tenders posted Wednesday is looking for an installer for “Multiple Tactical Projects,” — three new pilot projects, one in Halifax and two in Dartmouth.
The first includes new curb extensions around the Willow Tree intersection, Robie Street, Quinpool Road, Cogswell Street, and Bell Road.
The second includes new bump outs on Ochterloney Street at Victoria Road.
And the third includes new bump outs on Oakdale Crescent at Crichton Avenue.
“This contract will include the painting of all paint elements listed below. It will also include the installation of all the tactical curbs and bollards, and installation of posts,” the tender document says.
That tender closes Sep. 17.
The second tender posted Wednesday morning is for a “Tactical Bikeway” along what is technically Gottingen Street, from Rainnie Drive to Brunswick Street. It’s an extension of the protected Rainnie Drive bike lane, which runs from Cogswell to Gottingen, that will tie in to the unprotected bike lane on Brunswick Street.
Though the “tactical” name suggests the bikeway is a pilot, there are some permanent modifications to be made to the existing curbs.
“We will need to remove some of the curb so you can widen the bikeway without conflicting with the curb and to allow the bikeway to ramp down to the roadway level,” read the tender documents.
That tender also closes Sep. 17.
It’s unclear what the projects will cost, hence the tenders, but the city plans to spend $640,000 on “tactical urbanism” in this fiscal year.