Notes from Workshop #2

Transportation
March 5, 2009

Facilitator: Joe Grigg

Present: 3 CLG members; 7 residents; 5 HRM staff

Process:

1. Opening comments - Joe
2. Stated goal - 20 year vision of transportation
3. Rules - time limits; local content

Group Comment Regarding Public Transit

• scheduling not dependable
• “next bus” display

Dave Reage, Metro Treansit, provided updates on:

• Garage Expansion 2010 (May – August)
• Five-year operating plan
• Survey (8,000 responses) – (September to Regional Council)
• AVL (Automatic Vehicle Locator) “Go Time”

Dave McCusker, Regional Transportation, provided updates on:

• Expanded service into the evening
• Suburban Transit

Transit Destinations

• Future development – encourage nodes of development/employmen
• Older community (Woodlawn) has lost service walk
• Portland Estates got new service
• Four buses arrive at same time on Portland Street – subject to length of routes

Bus Shelters

• Joe circulated pictures of shelters from other jurisdictions featuring solar power and artistic panels
• Dave Reage - terminal replacements - bridge; Lacewood; Burnside; Penhorn Sobeys out
• Hugh - public washrooms needed
• Dave Reage - Adopt-A-Shelter – CBS Outdoor maintains shelters
• Benches in all
• Displays difficult to read in sunlight and are installed too high
• Crosswalk located immediately before bus stop, i.e. Alderney Drive and Alderney Manor

Priority for Transit @ Penhorn

• Ferry service improvements
• Difficult to run errands
• Safety
• Traffic backup into Portland Hills
• Use of waterways for transportation
• Portland Valley Halifax traffic
• Designated bus lanes
• Woodlawn service improvement
• Not just for work
• Affordable/Public transportation for the benefit of the environment
• Bus lay-bys
• Direct routes to major destinations, i.e., Scotia Square
• Free park and ride
• Hazard for standing passengers
• Access-A-Bus improvements to service required

Active Transportation

• Portland St./HWY 111 overpass snow clearing was inadequate
• Pedestrian access/connectivity
• Pedestrian vs. cyclists – education program; bikeways
• Aging/physically impaired residents
• Baker Dr. shared walkway (3m)
• (Joe provided information regarding Pinnacles Trail, Florida, USA – multi-use)
• Pedestrian count
• Woodlawn pedestrian connections inconsistent

Priority

• Bike lanes
• Bike parking at destinations
• Multi-use trails with destinations
• Implement AT-Plan
• Accommodate aging population, i.e., surfaces
• Portland and Hwy 111 overpass—improve
• HRM pedestrian oriented with a concentration on recreational trails and not destinations

Traffic

• Traffic congestion on Portland Street, near Russell Lake West and Portland Hills - no plans for Portland St.; Mount Hope connector

Question: Are two slip lanes possible westbound onto Hwy 111 from Portland Street?

• Speeding - traffic calming measures; 40 km/hr speed limit; enforcement
• Hwy 7 and Dave’s Fruit/Veg. needs lights (Brigadoon)
• Open up other side streets to allow short-cutting

Cross-walk Safety

• Identify redundant signals/stop signs