There are more people than ever in the greater Halifax area and, as a result, more cars. Users complain about road congestion.
The population of the Halifax Regional Municipality has increased by almost 21% in 10 years, from 428,902 people in 2013 to reach 518,711 residents in 2023, according to Statistics Canada (New window).
It is certain that with population growth […]there may be extensions to rush hour, economist and transportation consultant Deny Sullivan said in an interview.
We call it peak spreadinghe explains. When a large number of motorists hit the road a little earlier or a little later in the hope of avoiding traffic, it ends up causing traffic jams and creating other rush hours, or rush hours longer.
Since COVID, we have also seen a phenomenon where there are many people who have more flexibility in relation to their work. With them working from home, they may have more flexibility to travel during the afternoon, points out Deny Sullivan.
What do the parties promise during the electoral campaign?
The question came up in the election campaign in Nova Scotia. Voters in the province are called to the polls on November 26.
Part of Thursday night’s leaders’ debate between Tim Houston of the Progressive Conservative Party, Zach Churchill of the Liberal Party and Claudia Chender of the New Democratic Party (NDP) centered around this issue in the province’s largest urban center .
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Tim Houston, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia, after the November 14, 2024 leaders’ debate at the CBC/Radio-Canada studios in Halifax.
Photo: The Canadian Press / Darren Calabrese
The Progressive Conservative Party’s platform promises the largest-ever investment in Halifax Regional Municipality’s roads to reduce traffic congestion.
Tim Houston also believes that eliminating the toll on the Macdonald and MacKay bridges, which connect Dartmouth and Halifax, will improve traffic flow. In an interview last month, Deny Sullivan argued that it would have the opposite effect.
Although studies have shown that the widening of highways caused more congestion (New window)the Progressive Conservatives are talking about adding lanes to the portion of Highway 102 that enters Halifax.
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Five electric ferries will operate between Bedford and Halifax from 2027.
Photo: Courtesy
On the other hand, on public transport, Tim Houston’s party is content to promise a feasibility study for the construction of a light train.
The outgoing government announced at the start of the year that five electric ferries would operate between Bedford and downtown Halifax by 2027.
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Zach Churchill, Leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, after the November 14, 2024 leaders’ debate at the CBC/Radio-Canada studios in Halifax.
Photo: The Canadian Press / Darren Calabrese
The Liberals have nothing concrete on light rail, but they promise to make public transit free throughout Nova Scotia and to expand the public transportation offering. This promise is estimated at $53.6 million.
Zach Churchill’s Liberals say they will complete controlled-access highways 101 and 103, and add new exits to Highway 104.
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The MacKay Bridge, inaugurated in 1970, is expected to reach the end of its useful life around 2040. (File photo)
They also believe it is time to launch the project for a new six-lane bridge between Dartmouth and Halifax, to replace a MacKay bridge which will reach the end of its useful life around 2040.
The NDP and Claudia Chender, for their part, are talking about increasing the supply of public transportation and the quality of service.
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Claudia Chender, leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party, after the November 14, 2024 leaders’ debate at the CBC/Radio-Canada studios in Halifax.
Photo: The Canadian Press / Darren Calabrese
If elected, the New Democrats want more rapid bus lanes, new ferry routes, and free access to current ferries for the greater Halifax region.
One of the NDP’s central promises is also to suspend the provincial portion (15.5¢ per liter) of the gas tax.
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The NDP wants more expressways for Halifax Transit buses and new ferry routes. (Archive photo)
The Joint Regional Transport Agency, which is responsible for establishing a long-term vision for transport infrastructure in the region, declined to grant us an interview due to the ongoing election campaign.
According to the report by Paul Légère
