Halifax seeks input on new 15-year traffic combat plan

The municipality of Halifax is looking for ideas from the public to combat growing congestion on streets and highways.

It's putting together an "integrated mobility plan" to look at changes to transit, active transportation, and urban design. 

"[Traffic is] only going to get more congested," plan project manager Rod McPhail said.

By next summer, McPhail said council wants to have create a long-term 15-year plan to fight heavy traffic by 2031. 

"We have to start using our car less and start using other forms of transportation more," said McPhail. 

Public input needed

The municipal staffer said his team is holding a series of workshops to ask people for input on the plan.

McPhail said he's asking people, "What would it take in your daily life for you to use your car less?"

"We're hearing from people that it would take better transit."

'More than just putting buses on the road'

McPhail said once the team has collected ideas, it will come up with a set of recommendations. Those will be vetted for public input, and put before council by spring of 2017.

He said those recommendations will likely include improvements to transit.

"What we have to come up with is really making transit competitive with the car, and that will be more than just putting buses on the road. That will be putting them in their own bus lanes," he said.

Consultations took place on Wednesday and Thursday but there are a few more chances to give input:

• Wednesday, Sept. 28 at Exhibition Centre, Prospect Room, 200 Prospect Road, Halifax (3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
• Thursday, Sept. 29 at Alderney Landing, 2 Ochterloney Street, Dartmouth (3 p.m. session at Alderney Theatre Rotunda, 6 p.m. session in the Harbour East-Marine Drive Community Council Room)

'Really encouraged'

McPhail said the project is looking at everything related to transportation, such as sidewalks and cycling routes.

"As part of this plan, we're going to deliver a cycling network for Halifax that will make it safer for travelling," he said.

Amy Schwartz, who lives in Halifax, attended one of the workshops. She said she's happy municipal staff are looking at all forms of transportation in the plan.

"I'm really encouraged," Schwartz said.

"Buses should be quicker so that people want to take the bus instead of take their own car, and right now it's way easier to take your car. It should be way easier to take transit and cheaper."