The Halifax Regional Municipality continues to monitor and respond to the rapidly evolving effects of COVID-19.

In anticipation of the further lifting of Public Health restrictions, the municipality has been preparing to implement short, medium and long-term temporary adjustments to the transportation network, as part of the collective effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The Halifax Mobility Response: Streets and Spaces plan, formerly called the Transportation Recovery Plan, identifies necessary adaptations to the use of streets, sidewalks and bike lanes in response to Public Health directives.

The first phase of implementation will begin this week. The changes listed below will allow those walking and rolling (e.g. wheelchairs, strollers) to maintain physical distance while travelling on the streets that connect people to essential destinations and local businesses.

Sidewalk widening:

• Spring Garden Road: Sidewalks will be widened, on both sides of the street, between South Park and Queen streets by removing parking and loading spaces. Two-lanes of vehicle traffic will be maintained at all times.
  
  Bus stops 8330 and 8336 on Spring Garden Road will also be temporarily closed while these measures are in place.
• Quinpool Road:
  The northbound sidewalk will be widened between Quingate Place and Monastery Lane by removing parking and loading spaces on this section of Quinpool Road. 
  
  Bus stop 8138 on Quinpool Road will also be temporarily closed while these measures are in place.

Please note: There is ongoing road construction on Quinpool Road between Robie and Windsor streets. Pedestrian access will be maintained.

These changes are intended to provide space for people to keep moving, not to gather. Bicycles should continue to be used on the designated street section only.

Traffic signal modification:

Traffic signals have been modified to reduce wait times at pedestrian crossings. The following corridors have been completed:

·       Quinpool Road

·       Oxford Street

·       Robie Street

·       Joe Howe Drive

·       Bedford Highway (Bayview Road to Civic #50)

·       Dunbrack Street

·       Almon Street/Connaught Avenue

·       Bayers Road (Oxford to Windsor streets)

·       Young Street

Additional areas for traffic signal modification are being considered and will be communicated to the public with as much notice as possible.

Temporary loading spaces:

Temporary loading spaces have been created in specific locations across downtown Halifax and downtown Dartmouth. See here for more information.

These adjustments will be fully implemented by Friday, May 29 and will remain in place until further notice. Any changes in status will be communicated with the public with as much notice as possible. 

As the need for social distancing will remain in place for the foreseeable future, and how people move will change throughout the recovery phase, the municipality will continue to identify required adaptations to the use of its streets, sidewalks and bike lanes.

Municipal staff are engaging in planning for measures that can be deployed quickly, while also considering what will be needed over the coming months in response to Public Health directives.

More information will continue to be available as required adjustments are made to the Halifax Mobility Response: Streets and Spaces plan. Updates will be shared via @hfxgov on Twitter and at Halifax.ca.

Residents are invited to provide feedback on the municipality’s transportation network as it relates to COVID-19. Email planhrm@halifax.ca with your feedback or suggestions.

For more information on municipal services during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit halifax.ca/coronavirus.

Source: Release