HRM - News Releases

HRM Overnight Winter Parking Ban in Effect

webmaster@halifax.ca — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:00:00 -0400

HRM’s Overnight Winter Parking Ban In Effect

Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 – HRM is advising residents that the overnight winter parking ban will be in effect starting tonight from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. and will remain in effect until further notice. Tonight's forecast calls for rain changing to freezing rain, then snow around midnight - up to six centimentres by morning. This includes an advisory for flash freezing with rapid temperature drop.

The weather and snow clearing operations will dictate how long the overnight ban will remain in effect. HRM will notify residents when it has been lifted through Public Service Announcements, halifax.ca, 490-4000 and you can follow us on Twitter “@hfxgov”.

Provincial legislation (Section 139 of the Motor Vehicle Act) provides that people remove their vehicles from the streets, day or night, in the event of a snow or ice event. Vehicles obstructing snow removal or winter maintenance operations can be removed at the owner’s cost, regardless of time or date.

HRM requests that residents remove any street obstructions whenever possible during snow clearing operations. Items such as basketball nets and organic green carts hinder proper snow clearing and can result in damage to property and equipment.

HRM thanks you for your cooperation.

-30-

Contact:

Katherine VanBuskirk

HRM Communications

497-6518

vanbusk@halifax.ca

Transit talks impasse: "It is about the money"

webmaster@halifax.ca — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:00:00 -0400

(Thursday, February 9, 2012) - HRM's bargaining team returned to the table Wednesday with representatives for the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 508 and the conciliator, but the union would not budge on its $8.8 million proposal. Talks reached an impasse this morning.

"Our residents are anxious to see buses and ferries back in service and believe an affordable resolution to this work stoppage should be reached,” said Mayor Peter Kelly. “Residents are the ones negatively impacted and feeling the brunt of this continued work stoppage.”

In accordance with the revised mandate provided by Council yesterday, HRM today tabled a new proposal that includes a lump sum payment equivalent to 2.5 per cent of wages in the first year, a 3 per cent wage increase in the second year, and a 2 per cent wage increase in the third year. The wage increases would be offset by efficiencies gained through an improved scheduling system—known as ‘rostering’—that would reduce excessive overtime costs by packaging work in week-long blocks, as well as through wage restructuring for incoming transit operators.

The latest union proposal contains wage increases of 2.5 percent, 3 percent, 2.75 percent,, and no changes to the current scheduling practice, which allows transit operators to choose each shift they work in a week and leads to 80-100 shifts per week that need to be filled largely with overtime. Wage restructuring for new operators was also rejected.

"Getting back to the table and making real progress towards a solution will only happen if ATU is sincerely willing to work with HRM to find ways to be more efficient," said Metro Transit Director Eddie Robar. “Make no mistake: contrary to ATU's claims, it is about the money."

With the savings from rostering and stepped-in wage increases for new transit operators, HRM's offer is valued at $2.1 million - $6.7 million less than the proposal tabled by the ATU.

"Residents realize that there are only three ways to recover transit costs: operational efficiencies, the fare box, and on the backs of taxpayers. HRM cannot agree to terms that would further unduly increase the tax burden of residents,” said Mayor Kelly. "HRM taxpayers already pay more than 50 percent of the current transit costs, which represents an annual investment of more than $36 million."

Metro Transit customers are advised to check the Metro Transit portion of the HRM website at www.halifax.ca/metrotransit for updated information. Information will also be shared by @hfxtransit on Twitter and through the HRM call centre at 490-4000. Metro Transit is the primary transportation service provider in HRM and the largest transit system in Atlantic Canada, comprised of over 300 buses and three ferries. In addition to its conventional fixed route system with 61 routes, including the premium MetroLink and MetroX services, it operates three Community Transit routes, the harbour ferry service and the door-to-door Access-A-Bus service for persons with disabilities.

-30-

Contact: Mayor Peter Kelly 490-4010

Tiffany Chase HRM Corporate Communications 490-5057

Council Directs HRM Bargaining Team to Take New Transit Proposal to Conciliator

webmaster@halifax.ca — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:00:00 -0400

News Release

Council Directs HRM Bargaining Team

to Take New Transit Proposal to Conciliator

(February, 7, 2012) - The HRM Bargaining Team today received direction from Council to take a new, Council-approved proposal to the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) leaders and the conciliator tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. "There are only three ways to pay for a growing Transit service - the taxpayer, the fare box and operational efficiencies,” said Mayor Peter Kelly. “While we’re encouraged that the union wants to meet, our responsibility to the public is to create efficiencies first. ATU needs to be part of that solution within any proposal that’s on the table.”

HRM learned through the media that the ATU Bargaining Team has a proposal it wants to bring to negotiations on Wednesday.

-30-

CONTACT:

Mayor Peter Kelly 490-4010

HRM offers compromise but ATU rejects

webmaster@halifax.ca — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:00:00 -0400

HRM's Overnight Winter Parking Ban Will Not Take Effect Due to Forecast Change

webmaster@halifax.ca — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:00:00 -0400

Public Service Announcement

HRM’s Overnight Winter Parking Ban Will Not Take Effect Due to Forecast Change

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012 – Given the most recent weather forecast, which calls for rain and light snow, HRM will not enforce the overnight winter parking ban tonight.

HRM reminds residents that the overnight winter parking ban can take effect anytime from now until March 31, will only be enforced during declared snow and ice operations and will run from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., ending one hour earlier than in previous years.

HRM stresses the importance of staying informed and planning ahead by securing off-street parking now for when the overnight parking ban is in effect. Residents will be given at least 24 hours notice, when forecasts allow, of when a ban is in effect and weather and snow clearing operations will dictate how long it will remain in effect. HRM will notify residents when it has been lifted through Public Service Announcements, halifax.ca, 490-4000 and you can follow us on Twitter “@hfxgov”.

HRM thanks you for your cooperation.

-30-

Contact:

Michaelyn Thompson

HRM Communications

490-5940

thompsom@halifax.ca

HRM tables proposal addressing union concerns, but no agreement yet

webmaster@halifax.ca — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:00:00 -0400

HRM's Overnight Winter Parking Ban Lifted

webmaster@halifax.ca — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:00:00 -0400

Public Service Announcement

HRM’s Overnight Winter Parking Ban Lifted

Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 – HRM’s Traffic Authority has lifted the overnight winter parking ban until further notice.

Please stay informed and plan ahead by securing off-street parking now for when the overnight parking ban is in effect. Residents will be given 24 hours notice, when forecasts allow, of when a ban is in effect and weather and snow clearing operations will dictate how long it will remain in effect. HRM will notify residents when it has been lifted through Public Service Announcements, halifax.ca, 490-4000 and you can follow us on Twitter “@hfxgov”.

For more information on HRM’s winter operations, please visit: halifax.ca/snow

-30-

Contact:

Michaelyn Thompson

HRM Communications

222-1139

thompsom@halifax.ca

Emera Carnival on Ice Set for Tomorrow Evening

webmaster@halifax.ca — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:00:00 -0400

HRM's Overnight Winter Parking Ban in Effect

webmaster@halifax.ca — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:00:00 -0400

Public Service Announcement

HRM’s Overnight Winter Parking Ban In Effect

Friday, Jan. 27, 2012 – Given today’s weather forecast, HRM is advising residents that the overnight winter parking ban will be in effect starting tonight from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. and will remain in effect until further notice. Please ensure your vehicle is off the street and not interfering with snow clearing operations.

HRM thanks you for your cooperation.

-30-

Contact:

Michaelyn Thompson

HRM Communications

490-5940

thompsom@halifax.ca

Safety First with Outdoor Skating

webmaster@halifax.ca — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:00:00 -0400

Public Service Announcement

Safety First with Outdoor Skating

(January 25, 2012) – The winter weather in HRM this year has been a mix of freeze and thaw making it difficult for lakes to freeze and create sustainable ice conditions for safe outdoor skating.

The latest round of ice thickness testing by HRM shows many of the surfaces still not achieving the safety reading as per Red Cross recommendations. Ice surfaces across the region remain variable and citizens should be wary with the fluctuating temperatures.

The Red Cross recommends ice be 15 centimetres thick for individual skating and 21 centimetres thick for group skating. Ice thickness testing is randomly done on each lake and gives a general average of conditions, which can vary over the entire surface. HRM urges individuals to use extreme caution in areas where streams flow in and out of lakes.

For updated results, call the ice line at 490-3577. The information is updated on a weekly basis. Results are also posted at www.halifax.ca under Ice Thickness Reports. This service is provided with the understanding that anyone using the lakes does so at their own risk. HRM tests approximately 80 lakes and ponds.

-30-

Contact: Michaelyn Thompson HRM Communications 490-5940

thompsom@halifax.ca

HRM Appoints Acting Chief Financial Officer

webmaster@halifax.ca — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:00:00 -0400

Call for Expressions of Interest in Partnership Opportunities for Stadium

webmaster@halifax.ca — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:00:00 -0400

Metro Transit disappointed contract offer rejected

webmaster@halifax.ca — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:00:00 -0400

HRM News Release

Metro Transit disappointed contract offer rejected

(Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012) – Metro Transit Management expressed disappointment that members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 508 have rejected HRM’s contract offer.

"We put forward a contract package, inclusive of wage increases, that would allow us to build a sustainable, reliable transit service for the future,” said Metro Transit Director Eddie Robar. “The vote is a disappointment but we remain resolved to get a contract.”

Mr. Robar stressed that bus service will continue as usual for the time being. A 14-day countdown to a possible work stoppage began when the Conciliator filed his report on Jan.18, making Feb. 1 at Midnight the first time buses could stop. The union, which represents 750 bus operators, transit fleet mechanics, ferry crew and other transit workers, is also required to provide 48-hour notice of a legal walkout.

"We continue to serve the needs of 96,000 daily riders and we will be available during this countdown period to go back to the table to secure a deal with the ATU Local 508,” said Mr. Robar.

Metro Transit customers are advised to check the Metro Transit portion of the HRM website at www.halifax.ca/metrotransit for updated information.

Information will also be shared by @hfxtransit on Twitter and through the HRM call centre at 490-4000.

Metro Transit is the primary transportation service provider in HRM and the largest transit system in Atlantic Canada, comprised of over 300 buses and 3 ferries. In addition to its conventional fixed route system with 61 routes, including the premium MetroLink and MetroX services, it operates three Community Transit routes, the harbour ferry service and the door-to-door Access-A-Bus service for persons with disabilities.

Contact:

Shaune MacKinlay Manager, Public Affairs Halifax Regional Municipality 490-6531 mackins@halifax.ca