Advocates call for outside expertise on Halifax bus plan

Bus advocates want regional council to stop and rethink a plan to redesign Halifax Transit's routes, saying that it doesn't meet the needs of residents and visitors.

"What Halifax Transit really should do is ask council to be able to spend the money to hire one of a number of international consultants who specialize in doing exactly this kind of bus redesign," said Scott Edgar, a volunteer with a group called "It's More Than Buses."

Regional council is planning to review the report on Halifax Transit's Moving Forward Together Plan on Tuesday. The plan's goal is to improve the municipality's bus system. The 61-page document covers routes and recommendations.

Not enough information

Its two recommendations are to keep the existing route numbering associated with North Preston and Cherry Brook, and to approve the Moving Forward Together Plan as presented at the April. 12, 2016 regional council meeting with the North Preston and Cherry Brook changes.

"Our group has some concerns ... about the plan but our concerns are tentative because the real problem with the last draft of the network redesign and with this report is they don't give nearly enough information to be able to evaluate whether the plan is a good one or not," Edgar said.

Outside help needed

It's More Than Buses posted an open letter to regional council on Friday which points out that the Moving Forward Together Plan has four major shortcomings, including a lack of a connective network, inefficient and redundant route design, missing data and analysis and a long, five-year implementation.

"In order to get this plan right, [Halifax Transit] needs help. They need help from outside consultants. It's time to bring in a lot more manpower and expertise from people who have done exactly this kind of plan in very similar kinds of cities," said Edgar.