Halifax streets could see fewer buses stuck in traffic sooner thanks to the expedited implementation of a list of Transit Priority Measures (TPMs) originally planned to stretch into 2021. With new matching funds coming from the federal Public Transit Infrastructure Fund, eight of the 11 TPMs on Halifax’s list are “tentatively scheduled” for our next...
The return of Nova Scotia’s spoils system: Morning File, Thursday, February 2, 2017
News 1. NSCAD to accept students stranded by Trump’s immigration order “NSCAD University will be among a group of Canadian art schools accepting international students slated to go to U.S. schools now left stranded by President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration,” reports Chris Lambie for the Halifax Examiner. This article is behind the Examiner’s paywall […]
Low income transit pass program to grow this year, but passes will still be out of reach for poorest of the poor
Halifax is poised to make its Low Income Transit Pass pilot program permanent, and start talking to the province about getting transit passes into the hands of income assistance recipients. If council approves the recommendation from their Transportation Standing Committee, the city will start accepting applications for the new permanent program in May, with a […]
The parking violation death sentence: Morning File, Friday, January 27, 2017
News 1. HST hit to Nova Scotia Yesterday, I linked to Charlottetown Guardian reporter Teresa Wright’s bombshell that Atlantic provinces are being told to return “hundreds of millions” of dollars of miscalculated HST payments back to Ottawa. I wrote: Wright doesn’t put a dollar figure on the amount Nova Scotia owes, but assuming that the […]
Newer accessible buses considered unsafe by riders
By the end of March, Halifax buses will be 100 per cent of the accessible low floor (ALF) variety. That’s an important step forward in the slow march towards equal access for those of us with mobility challenges. Put that milestone next to the recent beta-testing of a new stop announcement system, and Halifax Transit appears...
Transit tech comes to Halifax, slowly
Another phase of Halifax Transit’s new tech rollout is hitting the streets, in the form of a female robotic voice letting you know what bus has just arrived at your stop, and what stop is next for the bus you’re on. In addition to the voice, there’s an on board display screen with the same...
Rethink: Halifax council calls for a much-needed second opinion on our bus route network
Colour me impressed. Halifax city councillors have voted to get a second opinion on the city’s new bus route plan, Moving Forward Together. Though it’s already been approved and the five-year implementation plan is underway, most of the heavy changes aren’t scheduled until 2018 and beyond, so there’s time to rework it. (In fact, the...
New transportation plan sets clear priority for transit, but missing key value statements
Last week we got our first glimpse of what a new 15-year transportation plan could look like for Halifax. In a second round of public consultations (ongoing this week in Bedford, Spryfield, and online), the Integrated Mobility Plan (IMP) team has presented a bunch of proposed actions, ranging from plugging the gaps in our sidewalk...
Africville and Electric Buses: Morning File, Thursday, December 1, 2016
Why are there so few Views lately?
Hi Halifax, Katie here! Tim says he’s tired so is taking the morning off. (I secretly think he just wants to see my memes though.) News 1. Court must decide whether to approve Africville lawsuit Over 50 years ago Africville, the historic Black Nova Scotian community outside Halifax, was razed to the ground in the name of so-called “urban […]
MFT changes discussion postponed to December 6
Councillors gear up to defend proposed changes, while IMTB asks to bring in an expert
Last night, Halifax council opted to defer a decision on a long list of changes to the Moving Forward Together transit plan until its meeting on December 6th. The plan, which was actually already approved in the spring, was before councillors Tuesday as they considered a staff report rejecting nearly all of the 23 changes proposed...