Halifax Transit

[someone123]

When the MetroLink service was first established there were vague plans to eventually serve Clayton Park. They may even have been mentioned in one of the 5 year plans. Lately regional council has been looking at building a new Lacewood terminal but the debates seemed kind of directionless, driven about as much by complaining residents as by perceived transit needs.

It's always seemed to me like Clayton Park is one of the worst areas in terms of services levels relative to demand. On top of that it seems like a relatively easy area to serve. Then again, I think Clayton Park service would be much more valuable with some good bus corridors on the Peninsula.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Originally Posted by Hali87

As it stands there are no transit connections between the Mainlands North and South that do not require a detour through Mumford.

This is a big hole, especially with so many jobs in Bayers Lake.

[Dmajackson]

November 19th schedule adjustments are announced. There is a lot of them so if you take Metro Transit make sure to check your route!

Service Adjustments
Rider's Guide
GoTime Newsletter

These adjustments are all about increasing reliability. This is one of the 'Big 5 Moves' for Metro Transit especially the major adjustments for Route 52.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

They certainly made it complex enough during rush hour on the 52. Lots of service, but sometimes the bus leaves 19 minutes past the hour, sometimes it leaves 23 minutes past the hour, or 25 minutes past the hour. How can people be expected to keep that in their head? Plus it uses buses up without actually creating frequency. You might have 5 buses go by in an hour but the longest headway might be 21 minutes, vs. 12 minutes if you ran them all at the same headways.

It would be so much easier to remember that your bus came at 4 minutes, 19 minutes, 34 minutes and 49 minutes past the hour.

These route adjustments may increase reliability but they don't do anything to increase frequency or reduce travel time (they actually increase travel time). The whole system is exceedingly complex, with too many routes doing similar things. You tinker with one part and you set off a chain reaction of tiny schedule adjustments to keep the transfers manageable. If this is a "Big Move" for Metro Transit we absolutely need to demand better.

If we want to increase reliability and decrease travel times we need to provide more reserved lanes for buses, more que-jumping and more transit activated traffic lights. This all takes political leadership.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Halifax Hillbilly

If this is a "Big Move" for Metro Transit we absolutely need to demand better.

Metro Transit needs some primary high-frequency routes analogous to the rapid transit lines you see in large cities.

In the past when TransLink has looked at new rapid transit lines, they've first established rough routes or alignments based on current and potential ridership, and then they have simulated different technologies (each of which might involve slightly different alignments) and eventually invited companies to bid.

I think a good way to go would be to start with a desire for 1 transit corridor, come up with a rough alignment servicing different terminals, neighbourhoods, and employment nodes, and then look at all the technologies available within a fairly broad budget. All the tradeoffs (capital cost vs. operating cost vs. travel times, comfort, sustainability, expansion possibilities, integration with other modes, etc.) need to be laid out.

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by Halifax Hillbilly

They certainly made it complex enough during rush hour on the 52. Lots of service, but sometimes the bus leaves 19 minutes past the hour, sometimes it leaves 23 minutes past the hour, or 25 minutes past the hour. How can people be expected to keep that in their head? Plus it uses buses up without actually creating frequency. You might have 5 buses go by in an hour but the longest headway might be 21 minutes, vs. 12 minutes if you ran them all at the same headways.

It would be so much easier to remember that your bus came at 4 minutes, 19 minutes, 34 minutes and 49 minutes past the hour.

These route adjustments may increase reliability but they don't do anything to increase frequency or reduce travel time (they actually increase travel time). The whole system is exceedingly complex, with too many routes doing similar things. You tinker with one part and you set off a chain reaction of tiny schedule adjustments to keep the transfers manageable. If this is a "Big Move" for Metro Transit we absolutely need to demand better.

If we want to increase reliability and decrease travel times we need to provide more reserved lanes for buses, more que-jumping and more transit activated traffic lights. This all takes political leadership.

I do agree with you. One thing to note this is just the start of the 'Big Move". The 52 is planned to be rerouted in Burnside and as more articulated buses come onboard they'll be sent to this route (and other high use routes). This will reduce the complexity of the route and reduce overcrowding.

Because of its length the 52 is complicated to plan but I think something like this would work;

- 30min headways off peak (before 6:30am, 9:30am-3:30pm, after 6:30pm)
- 15min or better peak hours (6:30am-9:30am, 3:30pm-6:30pm)
- Saturdays & Sundays 30min (6am-10pm), 60min (10pm-6am)
- On weekdays/Saturdays all off-peak buses between 6am-10pm would service Burnside and Bayers Lake. From 10pm-Midnight it would extend Wright&MacDonald-Bayers Lake, From Midnight-6am it would only run Lacewood-Burnside Garage.
- Sunday 6am-10pm Wright&MacDonald-Bayers Lake, 10pm-6am Burnside Garage-Lacewood.
- Additional service to supplement peakhour demand can be accomadated however the service must run to Lacewood or Bridge Terminals at minimum.

As for bus lanes Wyse Road has huge potential. Windmill, Lacewood, and Mumford could also be adapted to fit some.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

I do agree with you. One thing to note this is just the start of the 'Big Move". The 52 is planned to be rerouted in Burnside and as more articulated buses come onboard they'll be sent to this route (and other high use routes). This will reduce the complexity of the route and reduce overcrowding.

Well that's good, but it's still so frustrating to watch for so many reasons. Everything seems to happen behind closed doors, with so little info released to riders. I shouldn't have to read through technical reports or the 5-Year Operational Plan to have a reasonable idea of what is going to happen with the bus system. And it still isn't tied into an overall transportation plan or land use planning in any real sense. It also lacks any goal much beyond conventional, local service. Like Someone123 points out we have to start looking at corridors and different levels of service.

And in the last few years Metro Transit has kept at it, adding new routes that overlap (the 80,81 and 90 come to mind). Are some of these temporary routes that will be phased out with more phases of these Big Moves?

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Halifax Hillbilly

They certainly made it complex enough during rush hour on the 52. Lots of service, but sometimes the bus leaves 19 minutes past the hour, sometimes it leaves 23 minutes past the hour, or 25 minutes past the hour. How can people be expected to keep that in their head?

No worries. Metro Transit cannot deliver buses on time in any event and their schedule is mostly just a theoretical exercise, so just show up at the stop and be prepared to wait.

[Dmajackson]

Here's a plan I came up with for a "Peninsula Express" Corridor. This corridor can be used by all bus routes but would be focused on moving the MetroLinks, MetroExpresses, and Urban Expresses. Here is a map showing my idea. Note Red (Red) means multiple route types, Purple (Purple) is MetroLink, Green (Green) is MetroExpress, Yellow (Yellow) means street upgrades, and octagons show stop areas.



ROADS:

Bayers Road / Highway 102 - Realign interchange area and approach arteries to six lanes minimum (4 traffic, 2 bus/HOV). Improve existing bus stops and provide transit prioritization where possible. REQUIRED WORK: Major road widening and land expropriation, new traffic signals (Romans Avenue, HSC). Transit stop relocation and upgrades. ROUTES BENEFITED: 2, 17, 80, 81, 133*, 149*, 330.

Gottingen Street North - Install reversing third lane from North Street - Sullivan Street. Centre lane would become on-peak transit only lane / off-peak two-way-left-turn lane. Install permanent left turn lanes northbound at Young Street and southbound at North Street with adequate storage space. Provide advanced left-turn signal phases at the above mentioned intersections. REQUIRED WORK: 8-9 overhead reversing lane digital signs, new line painting, new signage, possible minor road widening. ROUTES BENEFITED: 21, 31, 33, 34, 35, 86, 133*, 149*, 330.

Gottingen Street South - Install permanent third lane for full-time transit use only in northbound direction from Cogswell Street - North Street. Allow quick stops and loading uses off-peak. WORK REQUIRED: New signage, new line painting. ROUTES BENEFITED: 1, 7, 10, 11, 21, 31, 33, 34, 86, 41, 53, 59, 61, 68, 133*, 149*, 320, 330.

Barrington Street - Widen from North Street - Cogswell Interchange to five-six lanes where possible. Southbound new lane would be a full-time transit lane along entire length. Northbound new lane would be a full-time transit lane from Interchange - Upper Water Street merge, and a MacDonald Bridge access lane from Upper Water Street Merge - MacDonald Bridge Access Ramp. New stop would be installed at the foot of Artz Street. Existing stop south of this would be moved further south to keep adequate spacing. Work widening plans into any redevelopment of Cogswell Interchange. WORK REQUIRED: Major road widening and some land expropriation, new signage, new line paintings, new traffic signals (Cornwallis Street). ROUTES BENEFITED: 1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 11, 20, 21, 31, 33, 34, 86, 41, 53, 59, 61, 68, 80, 81, 84, 85, 133*, 149*, 184*, 185, 320, 330.

EXPRESS ROUTES:

133 - Lacewood - Scotia Square: Lacewood Term'l - (r) Dunbrack - (l) Hwy 102 - (s) Bayers Road - (s) Young Street - (s) Kaye - (r) Gottingen - (l) North - (r) Barrington - (s) Scotia Square - (r) Duke - (r) Gottingen - (l) Young - (s) Bayers Road - (s) Hwy 102 - (r) Dunbrack - (l) Lacewood Term'l. Standard headways. Stops at Lacewood Term'l, Young & Robie, South Dockyards, and Scotia Square.

149 - Spryfield - Scotia Square: South Centre Park N' Ride - (l) Dentith - (r) Old Sambro - (l) Northwest Arm - (r) Hwy 102 - (s) Bayers Road - (s) Young Street - (s) Kaye - (r) Gottingen - (l) North - (r) Barrington - (s) Scotia Square - (r) Duke - (r) Gottingen - (l) Young - (s) Bayers Road - (s) Hwy 102 - (l) Northwest Arm - (r) Old Sambro - (l) Dentith Road - (r) South Centre Park N' Ride. Standard Headways. Stops at South Centre Park N' Ride, Cowie Hill, Osbourne, Walter Havill/Albert Walker, Young & Robie, South Dockyards, and Scotia Square

159 - Portland Hills - Scotia Square: Current routing, stops, and headways. Additional stop at South Dockyards.

184 - Cobequid - Scotia Square via Windmill & Barrington: Cobequid Term'l - (r) Cobequid - (l) Bedford Bypass - (s) Magazine Hill - (s) Windmill - (r) MacKay Bridge - (r) Barrington - (s) Scotia Square. Standard headways. Stops at Cobequid Term'l, Akerley, Wright, Victoria, North Dockyards, South Dockyards, and Scotia Square.

185 - Sackville - Scotia Square via Windmill & Barrington: Current routing, stops, and headways. Additional stops at North & South Dockyards.

320 - Int'l Airport - Scotia Square via Bridge Terminal: Current routing, stops, and headways. Reroute on Peninsula to use Barrington (south) and Gottingen (north). Additional stop at South Dockyard.

330 - Tantallon/Sheldrake Lake/Timberlea - Scotia Square: Current routing, stops, and headways. Reroute on Peninsula to use Barrington (south) and Gottingen (north) south of North Street. Additonal stops at Timberlea, Young & Robie, and South Dockyards. Alternating service during on-peak to Hwy 103 stops. Full service off-peak to all stops.

340 - Porter's Lake - Scotia Square via Bridge Terminal: New route being implemented this Winter. Use planned routing, stops, and headways. Reroute on Peninsula to use Barrington (south) and Gottingen (north). Additional stop at South Dockyard.

CANDIDATE EXPRESS ROUTES:

186 - Hammonds Plains - Scotia Square via Highway 102: BMO 4Pad Centre - (r) HPR - (r) Gary Martin - (r) Bedford West Collector - (l) Kearney Lake - (l) Larry Uteck West - (r) Hwy 102 - (s) Bayers Road - (s) Young Street - (s) Kaye - (r) Gottingen - (l) North - (r) Barrington - (s) Scotia Square - (r) Duke - (r) Gottingen - (l) Young - (s) Bayers Road - (s) Hwy 102 - (l) Larry Uteck West - (r) Kearney Lake - (r) Bedford West Collector - (r) Gary Martin - (l) HPR - (l) BMO 4Pad Centre. Standard Headways. Stops at BMO 4Pad Centre, Larry Uteck West (near Hwy 102), Young & Robie, Dockyard South, and Scotia Square.

188 - Cobequid - Scotia Square via Burnside & Bridge Terminal: Cobequid Term'l - *(l) Cobequid - (r) Glendale - (s) Duke* - (s) Hwy 107 - (s) Burnside Drive - (s) Highfield Park - (l) Highfield Term'l - (r) Pinecrest - (s) Robert Burns - (r) Primrose - (l) Victoria - (r) Thistle - (r) Bridge Term'l - (l) Nantucket - (s) MacDonald Bridge - (r) Barrington - (s) Scotia Square - (r) Duke - (r) Gottingen - (r) North - (s) MacDonald Bridge - (s) Nantucket - (r) Bridge Term'l - (l) Thistle - (l) Victoria - (r) Primrose - (l) Robert Burns - (s) Pinecrest - (l) Highfield Term'l - (r) Highfield Park - (s) Burnside - (s) Hwy 107 - *(s) Duke - (s) Glendale - (l) Cobequid - (r) Cobequid Term'l*. Standard Headways. Stops at Cobequid, Akerley, Wright, Ronald Smith/Commodore, Highfield Term'l, Bridge Term'l, South Dockyards, and Scotia Square.

191 - Sackville - Scotia Square via Burnside & Bridge Terminal: Sackville Term'l - (l) Walker Connector - (l) Old Sackville - *(r) Beaverbank - (r) Glendale - (s) Duke - *(s) Hwy 107 - (s) Burnside Drive - (s) Highfield Park - (l) Highfield Term'l - (r) Pinecrest - (s) Robert Burns - (r) Primrose - (l) Victoria - (r) Thistle - (r) Bridge Term'l - (l) Nantucket - (s) MacDonald Bridge - (r) Barrington - (s) Scotia Square - (r) Duke - (r) Gottingen - (r) North - (s) MacDonald Bridge - (s) Nantucket - (r) Bridge Term'l - (l) Thistle - (l) Victoria - (r) Primrose - (l) Robert Burns - (s) Pinecrest - (l) Highfield Term'l - (r) Highfield Park - (s) Burnside - (s) Hwy 107 - (s) Duke - *(s) Glendale - (l) Beaverbank - (l) Old Sackville - (r) Walker Connector - (r) Sackville Term'l*. Standard Headways. Stops at Sackville Term'l, Akerley, Wright, Ronald Smith/Commodore, Highfield Term'l, Bridge Term'l, South Dockyards, and Scotia Square.

In addition to the above I would plan (but not commit funding for now) to MetroLinks or Ferries for Purcell's Cove and Eastern Passage; a MetroLink for Westphal; a MetroExpress for Hwy's 101 and 102 (beyond Sackville Term'l and Airport respectively).

* All plans assuming Bedford is serviced with rail or ferry service.

* Routes 188 & 191 notes: The path listed is for Phase 1 of the Hwy 107 Extension (Burnside Expressway). If future phases are built the buses would stay on Hwy 107 - (l) Hwy 102 - (r) Hwy 101 and then split to Cobequid and Sackville Terminals respectively.

[teddifax]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Here's a plan I came up with for a "Peninsula Express" Corridor. This corridor can be used by all bus routes but would be focused on moving the MetroLinks, MetroExpresses, and Urban Expresses. Here is a map showing my idea. Note Red (Red) means multiple route types, Purple (Purple) is MetroLink, Green (Green) is MetroExpress, Yellow (Yellow) means street upgrades, and octagons show stop areas.



ROADS:

Bayers Road / Highway 102 - Realign interchange area and approach arteries to six lanes minimum (4 traffic, 2 bus/HOV). Improve existing bus stops and provide transit prioritization where possible. REQUIRED WORK: Major road widening and land expropriation, new traffic signals (Romans Avenue, HSC). Transit stop relocation and upgrades. ROUTES BENEFITED: 2, 17, 80, 81, 133*, 149*, 330.

Gottingen Street North - Install reversing third lane from North Street - Sullivan Street. Centre lane would become on-peak transit only lane / off-peak two-way-left-turn lane. Install permanent left turn lanes northbound at Young Street and southbound at North Street with adequate storage space. Provide advanced left-turn signal phases at the above mentioned intersections. REQUIRED WORK: 8-9 overhead reversing lane digital signs, new line painting, new signage, possible minor road widening. ROUTES BENEFITED: 21, 31, 33, 34, 35, 86, 133*, 149*, 330.

Gottingen Street South - Install permanent third lane for full-time transit use only in northbound direction from Cogswell Street - North Street. Allow quick stops and loading uses off-peak. WORK REQUIRED: New signage, new line painting. ROUTES BENEFITED: 1, 7, 10, 11, 21, 31, 33, 34, 86, 41, 53, 59, 61, 68, 133*, 149*, 320, 330.

Barrington Street - Widen from North Street - Cogswell Interchange to five-six lanes where possible. Southbound new lane would be a full-time transit lane along entire length. Northbound new lane would be a full-time transit lane from Interchange - Upper Water Street merge, and a MacDonald Bridge access lane from Upper Water Street Merge - MacDonald Bridge Access Ramp. New stop would be installed at the foot of Artz Street. Existing stop south of this would be moved further south to keep adequate spacing. Work widening plans into any redevelopment of Cogswell Interchange. WORK REQUIRED: Major road widening and some land expropriation, new signage, new line paintings, new traffic signals (Cornwallis Street). ROUTES BENEFITED: 1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 11, 20, 21, 31, 33, 34, 86, 41, 53, 59, 61, 68, 80, 81, 84, 85, 133*, 149*, 184*, 185, 320, 330.

EXPRESS ROUTES:

133 - Lacewood - Scotia Square: Lacewood Term'l - (r) Dunbrack - (l) Hwy 102 - (s) Bayers Road - (s) Young Street - (s) Kaye - (r) Gottingen - (l) North - (r) Barrington - (s) Scotia Square - (r) Duke - (r) Gottingen - (l) Young - (s) Bayers Road - (s) Hwy 102 - (r) Dunbrack - (l) Lacewood Term'l. Standard headways. Stops at Lacewood Term'l, Young & Robie, South Dockyards, and Scotia Square.

149 - Spryfield - Scotia Square: South Centre Park N' Ride - (l) Dentith - (r) Old Sambro - (l) Northwest Arm - (r) Hwy 102 - (s) Bayers Road - (s) Young Street - (s) Kaye - (r) Gottingen - (l) North - (r) Barrington - (s) Scotia Square - (r) Duke - (r) Gottingen - (l) Young - (s) Bayers Road - (s) Hwy 102 - (l) Northwest Arm - (r) Old Sambro - (l) Dentith Road - (r) South Centre Park N' Ride. Standard Headways. Stops at South Centre Park N' Ride, Cowie Hill, Osbourne, Walter Havill/Albert Walker, Young & Robie, South Dockyards, and Scotia Square

159 - Portland Hills - Scotia Square: Current routing, stops, and headways. Additional stop at South Dockyards.

184 - Cobequid - Scotia Square via Windmill & Barrington: Cobequid Term'l - (r) Cobequid - (l) Bedford Bypass - (s) Magazine Hill - (s) Windmill - (r) MacKay Bridge - (r) Barrington - (s) Scotia Square. Standard headways. Stops at Cobequid Term'l, Akerley, Wright, Victoria, North Dockyards, South Dockyards, and Scotia Square.

185 - Sackville - Scotia Square via Windmill & Barrington: Current routing, stops, and headways. Additional stops at North & South Dockyards.

320 - Int'l Airport - Scotia Square via Bridge Terminal: Current routing, stops, and headways. Reroute on Peninsula to use Barrington (south) and Gottingen (north). Additional stop at South Dockyard.

330 - Tantallon/Sheldrake Lake/Timberlea - Scotia Square: Current routing, stops, and headways. Reroute on Peninsula to use Barrington (south) and Gottingen (north) south of North Street. Additonal stops at Timberlea, Young & Robie, and South Dockyards. Alternating service during on-peak to Hwy 103 stops. Full service off-peak to all stops.

340 - Porter's Lake - Scotia Square via Bridge Terminal: New route being implemented this Winter. Use planned routing, stops, and headways. Reroute on Peninsula to use Barrington (south) and Gottingen (north). Additional stop at South Dockyard.

CANDIDATE EXPRESS ROUTES:

186 - Hammonds Plains - Scotia Square via Highway 102: BMO 4Pad Centre - (r) HPR - (r) Gary Martin - (r) Bedford West Collector - (l) Kearney Lake - (l) Larry Uteck West - (r) Hwy 102 - (s) Bayers Road - (s) Young Street - (s) Kaye - (r) Gottingen - (l) North - (r) Barrington - (s) Scotia Square - (r) Duke - (r) Gottingen - (l) Young - (s) Bayers Road - (s) Hwy 102 - (l) Larry Uteck West - (r) Kearney Lake - (r) Bedford West Collector - (r) Gary Martin - (l) HPR - (l) BMO 4Pad Centre. Standard Headways. Stops at BMO 4Pad Centre, Larry Uteck West (near Hwy 102), Young & Robie, Dockyard South, and Scotia Square.

188 - Cobequid - Scotia Square via Burnside & Bridge Terminal: Cobequid Term'l - *(l) Cobequid - (r) Glendale - (s) Duke* - (s) Hwy 107 - (s) Burnside Drive - (s) Highfield Park - (l) Highfield Term'l - (r) Pinecrest - (s) Robert Burns - (r) Primrose - (l) Victoria - (r) Thistle - (r) Bridge Term'l - (l) Nantucket - (s) MacDonald Bridge - (r) Barrington - (s) Scotia Square - (r) Duke - (r) Gottingen - (r) North - (s) MacDonald Bridge - (s) Nantucket - (r) Bridge Term'l - (l) Thistle - (l) Victoria - (r) Primrose - (l) Robert Burns - (s) Pinecrest - (l) Highfield Term'l - (r) Highfield Park - (s) Burnside - (s) Hwy 107 - *(s) Duke - (s) Glendale - (l) Cobequid - (r) Cobequid Term'l*. Standard Headways. Stops at Cobequid, Akerley, Wright, Ronald Smith/Commodore, Highfield Term'l, Bridge Term'l, South Dockyards, and Scotia Square.

191 - Sackville - Scotia Square via Burnside & Bridge Terminal: Sackville Term'l - (l) Walker Connector - (l) Old Sackville - *(r) Beaverbank - (r) Glendale - (s) Duke - *(s) Hwy 107 - (s) Burnside Drive - (s) Highfield Park - (l) Highfield Term'l - (r) Pinecrest - (s) Robert Burns - (r) Primrose - (l) Victoria - (r) Thistle - (r) Bridge Term'l - (l) Nantucket - (s) MacDonald Bridge - (r) Barrington - (s) Scotia Square - (r) Duke - (r) Gottingen - (r) North - (s) MacDonald Bridge - (s) Nantucket - (r) Bridge Term'l - (l) Thistle - (l) Victoria - (r) Primrose - (l) Robert Burns - (s) Pinecrest - (l) Highfield Term'l - (r) Highfield Park - (s) Burnside - (s) Hwy 107 - (s) Duke - *(s) Glendale - (l) Beaverbank - (l) Old Sackville - (r) Walker Connector - (r) Sackville Term'l*. Standard Headways. Stops at Sackville Term'l, Akerley, Wright, Ronald Smith/Commodore, Highfield Term'l, Bridge Term'l, South Dockyards, and Scotia Square.

In addition to the above I would plan (but not commit funding for now) to MetroLinks or Ferries for Purcell's Cove and Eastern Passage; a MetroLink for Westphal; a MetroExpress for Hwy's 101 and 102 (beyond Sackville Term'l and Airport respectively).

* All plans assuming Bedford is serviced with rail or ferry service.

* Routes 188 & 191 notes: The path listed is for Phase 1 of the Hwy 107 Extension (Burnside Expressway). If future phases are built the buses would stay on Hwy 107 - (l) Hwy 102 - (r) Hwy 101 and then split to Cobequid and Sackville Terminals respectively.

You have thoroughly done your work. I just wish you were working for HRM and Metro Transit. Much work needs to be done to improve transit in HRM and if not done more people will stop using it, making the situation worse!

[Dmajackson]

February 25, 2013 Schedule Adjustments

Route 1 Spring Garden
(Saturday only)
- Additional travel time added to morning and evening service resulting in schedule adjustments

Route 2 Wedgewood
(Saturday and Sunday)
- Schedule adjustments

Route 4 Rosedale
(Saturday and Sunday)
- Schedule adjustments

Route 16 Parkland
(Weekday and Saturday)
- Route extended to provide service to Regency Park Drive and Thomas Raddall Drive in both directions to and from Lacewood Terminal.
- Schedule adjustments for both arrival and departures at the Lacewood Terminal to accommodate new routing.

Route 18 Universities
(Saturday only)
- Schedule adjustments

Route 21 Lakeside/Timberlea
(Saturday only)
- Schedule adjustments to improve connections with Route 2 Wedgewood and Route 4 Rosedale at the Lacewood Terminal.

Route 35 Parkland Urban Express
(Weekday only)
- Travel time adjustments made between downtown Halifax and Mount Saint Vincent University on the Bedford Highway during evening rush hour trips.

Route 41 Dartmouth/Dalhousie
(Weekday only)
- Reduction of travel time between Barrington/Duke intersection and Morris Street.

Route 51 Windmill
(Weekday, Saturday and Sunday)
- Route 51 extended to provide service along Windmill Road to Wyse Road to and from the Bridge Terminal. Service will be removed from Faulkner Street.

Route 53 Notting Park
(Weekday only)
- First morning trip from Highfield Terminal will now depart at 5:50 a.m.

Route 57 Russell Lake
(Weekday only)
- Morning rush hour trips from Portland Hills Terminal will depart three minutes earlier to improve connections with the Woodside Ferry.

Route 59 Colby
(Weekday only)
- Removal of 8:08 a.m. trip from Portland Hills Terminal to Halifax.

Route 60 Eastern Passage/Heritage Hills
(Weekday, Saturday and Sunday)
- Increased travel time during morning rush hour trips to help improve connections at Woodside Ferry Terminal and Bridge Terminal.

Route 65 Caldwell
(Weekday only)
- Morning rush hour trips will depart three minutes earlier to provide connection with Route 57 Russell Lake at the Portland Hills Terminal.

Route 80 Sackville
(Weekday only)
- Schedule adjustments

Route 81 Hemlock Ravine
(Weekday only)
- Schedule adjustments

Route 90 Larry Uteck
(Weekday)
- Schedule adjustment to morning rush hour trips to improve connections with the Woodside Ferry.

All Routes between Bridge Terminal & Alderney Terminal
(Weekday, Saturday and Sunday)
- All routes travelling to Alderney Terminal from the Bridge Terminal (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63 and 68) will have departure adjustments

---

I guess they didn't get the Porter's Lake Metro Express completed.

I don't know how I feel about rerouting the 16 since the servicing the Halifax West area will add a good five minutes or so onto its travel times. IMO it would be better suited for a neighbourhood shuttle service.

However that said the Route 51 plan seems like a smart idea. The Shore Road neighbourhood is a relatively dense neighbourhood so getting minimum service is a good start.

[Dmajackson]

^To answer my own inquiry it appears "Route 370" (Porter's Lake MetroExpress) is being pushed back to November 2013.;

http://www.halifax.ca/Commcoun/east/documents/ECCMetroXHwy107Update_Jan_1013.pdf

[halifaxboyns]

The biggest delay for bus projects is usually the construction of the buses, if there is minimal infrastructure to build. Usually on an LRT project, because of the need to construct the tracks (or guideway), stations, etc. there isn't much of a delay because all of that takes time and then the trains arrive just at the end.

[Jstaleness]

Lot's of adjustments this time. I only see one issue with the 51 being removed from Faulkner St. It takes the one stop that is closest to Save Easy and NSLC away. When I used to live in the area that always seemed like a well used stop.

[Dmajackson]

Metro Transit wants fare hike
January 29, 2013 - 12:50pm BY SHERRI BORDEN COLLEY STAFF REPORTER

Metro Transit users may have to fork out more cash for service sometime this year.

The transit service is proposing a 25-cent fare increase to pay for technology upgrades, the purchase of nine new conventional buses, two Access-A-Buses, a fourth ferry, and to start on the new Lacewood bus terminal in 2013-2014. That would bring the cost of an adult fare to $2.50.

“The main purchase that would be made in this budget year, 2013-14, would be a new automated vehicle location system,”Halifax Regional Municipality spokeswoman Tiffany Chase said in an interview Tuesday. “We have one right now and that system is used to track vehicles. It tracks buses and it allows Metro Transit to monitor route performance.

...

([email protected])

Read More: thechronicleherald.ca

I'm not against this idea. They have a graph in their presentation to the committee that compares small-medium sized public transportation systems and Halifax has the cheapest fares (~$2.75 is average).

[DigitalNinja]

I noticed that they re-painted the Hybrid busses in their conventional scheme.

Also, why do they need more access a buses when many people are just using the conventional ones with the priority seating for disabled peoples?

[gm_scott]

Originally Posted by DigitalNinja

I noticed that they re-painted the Hybrid busses in their conventional scheme.

Also, why do they need more access a buses when many people are just using the conventional ones with the priority seating for disabled peoples?

I believe they were always painted, they just had the special hybrid wrap. I only felt like commenting because I am very glad they decided to take the wrap off, it was peeling at every corner and looked terrible.

[Dmajackson]

Councillor pushes to have late-night ferry runs returned
January 31, 2013 - 9:38pm BY LAURA FRASER CITY HALL REPORTER

The late-night ferry service that was cut in the budget last spring will make a reappearance in this year’s financial forecast, with support from Halifax’s mayor and the audit and finance committee.

Coun. Gloria McCluskey asked the department to find the $150,000 needed to operate the ferry until midnight every day of the week during a committee debate Wednesday.

When ferry crossings were to be cut off at 10:15 p.m. last year, several councillors said they unknowingly approved the change as part of the larger budget package. It sparked a public outcry and a compromise was struck: the last ferry now leaves Halifax at 11:45 p.m. on Friday and Saturdays, with an earlier cutoff during the week.

...

([email protected])

Read More: thechronicleherald.ca

[hfx_chris]

Nice to see a lot of great discussion going on!

I'm very much of the opinion that right now, Transit's focus needs to be on improving service in the Bedford and Clayton Park areas. A new Lacewood terminal, wherever it is built will hopefully come with the long-awaited Clayton Park MetroLink route (if I were to take a guess at a route number I would say 131).

One idea I've been turning over in my head lately is the idea of a new terminal in the Bedford area, possibly near or on Larry Uteck. We all know that area is growing in leaps and bounds, and will continue to grow. I would see this being similar to the Portland Hills terminal, another area that continues to grow. A complete re-working of routes through Bedford (including the 80, 81, 82 rush hour, 86 rush hour, 90). Hopefully once Starboard Drive is completed we can get rid of this 81/90 madness, maybe turn it into a local route servicing Starboard and Southgate, then transfer to a higher frequency route heading into the city or possibly even a Bedford MetroLink route.

Of course a lot of this relies heavily on improvements to streets like the Bedford Highway, Bayers Road and/or hwy 102.


Re. the re-routing of the 16, I can't see that adding any more than a couple of minutes at best to the trip time...

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

^To answer my own inquiry it appears "Route 370" (Porter's Lake MetroExpress) is being pushed back to November 2013.;

http://www.halifax.ca/Commcoun/east/documents/ECCMetroXHwy107Update_Jan_1013.pdf

This is still planned for November 2013. Looks like the six buses will be provided by Overland Custom Coaches; http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/130226ca1012.pdf

Also Metro Transit is planning to purchase 22 standard 12.2-metre buses half of which will be for replacement. 5 will be used as expansion on existing routes and 6 buses will be used as expansion for new feeder routes for Woodside Terminal (for the new ferry coming online); http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/130226ca1011.pdf