Halifax's Street Network

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by JET

Gottingen is a place in Germany, wiki gives the origin of the name.
And also the pronunciation, but it’s a tad confusing.

The German pronunciation really isn't difficult, but for Haligonians it's foreign enough that there's not a chance it would ever catch on here.

[Arrdeeharharharbour]

From Halifax.ca:

AdaptiveTrafficLights by A.J. Forsythe, on Flickr


I'm wondering if 'real-time traffic conditions' being monitored include pedestrian traffic and bicycle traffic or if it's just auto traffic that will be monitored and affect the timing of traffic lights. Anyone know?

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Arrdeeharharharbour

From Halifax.ca:

AdaptiveTrafficLights by A.J. Forsythe, on Flickr


I'm wondering if 'real-time traffic conditions' being monitored include pedestrian traffic and bicycle traffic or if it's just auto traffic that will be monitored and affect the timing of traffic lights. Anyone know?

I don't know, but I suspect it would be only for cars, as that is where our major traffic backups are.

Edit: It also should be mentioned that pedestrians already have priority crossing at non-signaled crosswalks and a button to speed up signal change at signalled ones.

[MastClimberPro]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

Hey, people still can't agree if it's EYESville or AISLE-ville Street

Don't sleep on those who call it either AISLES-ville and even EYES-ILL-ville.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Arrdeeharharharbour

I took a short walk on the recently completed (save for some trees/landscaping that will be done in the spring) Dutch Village Road. I give it two thumbs up. The vibe of this area is getting better and better... this in spite of the new-ish building on the left in the second pic which is tres ugly.

PXL_20260109_172350375 by A.J. Forsythe, on Flickr


PXL_20260109_172142531 by A.J. Forsythe, on Flickr

Took a detour through there last week as Joe Howe was backed up (hmmm there’s a phrase I never thought I’d be using) due to a transit bus blocking both lanes at the intersection of Scot in an attempt to get into the right lane that wasn’t moving.

Anyhow… I thought that Dutch Village looks very nice, and functionally, worked well. I seem to recall some angst somewhere on this forum about how the changes were going to cause traffic chaos, but really it was a non issue, around the start of rush hour no less. I’m wondering if people who live near there might care to comment. My brief experience is a thumbs up. Nicer looking and still allows traffic to move (I used to live in the area years ago, so I feel that I have a good baseline from which to judge).

[Keith P.]

Well, DVR was always one of the ugliest streets around these parts, having been a literal cart path that had some asphalt thrown down with no curb and sidewalks on much of it. This looks tidier for sure but less conducive to traffic once you throw buses and big trucks into the mix. The blacktop bike lanes between the curb and sidewalk are an interesting approach, one I think I suggested on here not long ago.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Well, DVR was always one of the ugliest streets around these parts, having been a literal cart path that had some asphalt thrown down with no curb and sidewalks on much of it. This looks tidier for sure but less conducive to traffic once you throw buses and big trucks into the mix. The blacktop bike lanes between the curb and sidewalk are an interesting approach, one I think I suggested on here not long ago.

Well, as I mentioned, a bus had blocked both lanes on Joe Howe, so extra car lanes are not always the answer (though had that bus driver been more considerate there wouldn’t have been a problem).

I had no issues during a busy time of day, which is why I was hoping to get the impressions of a local, or someone who regularly takes that route. Huge improvement over the “cart path” that was there before IMHO.

[bartekci]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Anyhow… I thought that Dutch Village looks very nice, and functionally, worked well. I seem to recall some angst somewhere on this forum about how the changes were going to cause traffic chaos, but really it was a non issue, around the start of rush hour no less.

I live off Dutch Village and I haven't noticed any difference in traffic. It's the same as it ever was. I drive, walk, and cycle on DVR (and beyond)

In speaking with neighbours, everyone is a fan of the upgrade. Lots more families and people in general seem to be walking (and biking!) around, and I am sure this will increase as the retail stretch sees further improvement (with the added density + retail ground floors coming soon)

The main thing people locally complain about is not traffic but some of the bump outs, where they feel their larger vehicles are imposing onto the other lane during a turn. I can sympathize with that but also ... if people are gonna be buying RAV4's they need to learn how to handle them

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by bartekci

I live off Dutch Village and I haven't noticed any difference in traffic. It's the same as it ever was. I drive, walk, and cycle on DVR (and beyond)

In speaking with neighbours, everyone is a fan of the upgrade. Lots more families and people in general seem to be walking (and biking!) around, and I am sure this will increase as the retail stretch sees further improvement (with the added density + retail ground floors coming soon)

The main thing people locally complain about is not traffic but some of the bump outs, where they feel their larger vehicles are imposing onto the other lane during a turn. I can sympathize with that but also ... if people are gonna be buying RAV4's they need to learn how to handle them

Thank you!!

[teddifax]

The problem about DVR is leaving the retail lots in the area of Giant Tiger and DQ.... to make a right hand turn, you HAVE to go into oncoming traffic due to the abrupt curbing.... I also find this in other shopping parking lots, like the Clayton Park SC.... if is a safety hazard....

[Antigonish]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Well, DVR was always one of the ugliest streets around these parts, having been a literal cart path that had some asphalt thrown down with no curb and sidewalks on much of it. This looks tidier for sure but less conducive to traffic once you throw buses and big trucks into the mix. The blacktop bike lanes between the curb and sidewalk are an interesting approach, one I think I suggested on here not long ago.

Am I misremembering or was DVR a much more important thoroughfare 30 years ago? Was the section of Joe Howe between Bayers Rd and DVR (the current northern terminus) originally the train tracks that went to Timberlea & South Shore? Then when they shut down the tracks they used that ROW to build a wider straight line north to the Bedford Highway bypassing DVR all together?

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Antigonish

Am I misremembering or was DVR a much more important thoroughfare 30 years ago? Was the section of Joe Howe between Bayers Rd and DVR (the current northern terminus) originally the train tracks that went to Timberlea & South Shore? Then when they shut down the tracks they used that ROW to build a wider straight line north to the Bedford Highway bypassing DVR all together?

No, Joe Howe was always a high volume thoroughfare as long as I can remember. The train tracks mostly ran parallel to JH, and when they were removed the ROW was transformed into an “active transportation” route, IIRC.

[Arrdeeharharharbour]

I first became aware that this area was more than just a road when reading a Thomas Raddall novel some years back. "His Magesty's Yankees" is the novel IIRC...set in the late 1700s. The old Dutch Village figured in the novel somehow. Anyway, the area does have a certain village aspect to it to this day. It's somehow unique within the city in a good way. I would like to see the area/precinct take on the moniker of 'Old Dutch Village' and develop it into a proper brand. Given the ongoing buildup of the area surely there'll be plenty of restaurants/shops/etc. enhancing the Old Dutch Village as a destination of sorts.

Dutch Village by A.J. Forsythe, on Flickr

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by bartekci

The main thing people locally complain about is not traffic but some of the bump outs, where they feel their larger vehicles are imposing onto the other lane during a turn. I can sympathize with that but also ... if people are gonna be buying RAV4's they need to learn how to handle them

A RAV4 is in no way a large vehicle.

I used to go to the Giant Tiger in that old shopping plaza there occasionally but I stopped doing that because access to/from their parking lot was so impaired by the tight curb cuts.

[IanWatson]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

A RAV4 is in no way a large vehicle.

The newest ones have certainly gotten a lot larger, especially in regard to hood height. You can see the comparison here: https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/toyota-rav4-2005-suv-swb-vs-toyota-rav4-2025-suv/

This "badge inflation" seems to be a common thing across all manufacturers - increasing the size of their flagship badge and then intoducing a new badge to fill the low end. E.g. the Corola Cross is essentially the same size as the Rav4 of old.

But yeah, there are some much bigger cars out there. The Toyota Highlander is massive at this point in its history.

On the topic at hand, the DVR changes are definitely a net positive. Some of it is a little wonky, but considering the crazy inconsistent right-of-way they had to work with the designers have done a pretty admirable job.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by IanWatson

The newest ones have certainly gotten a lot larger, especially in regard to hood height. You can see the comparison here: https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/toyota-rav4-2005-suv-swb-vs-toyota-rav4-2025-suv/

Well, people have gotten a lot larger over time as well, along with their proclivity to haul stuff around with them.

The fact remains that the RAV was a dumb example to cite as an excessively large vehicle.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Well, people have gotten a lot larger over time as well, along with their proclivity to haul stuff around with them.

The fact remains that the RAV was a dumb example to cite as an excessively large vehicle.

I’ve seen many people driving small to midsize SUVs (including RAV4s) who appear to have difficulty driving them, so not an unreasonable comment (actually seems like an unexpected point to nitpick). As had been happening for decades before the more recent success of the advertising industry in convincing the general public that they “need” an SUV, I expect that most people would do just fine with a sedan or hatchback.

But yes, vehicles have been growing in size and mass since the 1990s, to the point that some have become almost comically large (and thus needing numerous sensors and cameras to assist drivers in not hitting stuff). I witnessed a poor silver-haired lady attempting to maneuver a largish Jeep SUV in a parking lot last week and she was obviously struggling to park it. She eventually gave up and left the parking lot, but happily did not strike anything or anyone in the process.

The moral of the story is that parking lots and street features should be designed with unskilled SUV drivers in mind, as this is our present and our future.

[DartmouthSteve]

A 1974 Oldsmobile 98 begs to differ. ������

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by DartmouthSteve

A 1974 Oldsmobile 98 begs to differ. ������

Exactly.

Kids these days...

The category is called "compact SUVs". These aren't Peterbilt-sized like a F-150.

https://www.caranddriver.com/rankings/best-suvs/compact

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Exactly.

Kids these days...

The category is called "compact SUVs". These aren't Peterbilt-sized like a F-150.

https://www.caranddriver.com/rankings/best-suvs/compact

Perhaps not, but when the RAV4 came out compact SUV meant something different and over the years they have grown quite a bit smaller and the classes have shifted.

A 1996 4Runner was considered a mid-size SUV and it's about the same length as a 2026 RAV4, which itself is about 20" longer than the original 1996 RAV4. And now we have subcompact SUVs to fill the gap that was created by all the compact models growing.