Bringing the population to 1 million

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by JHikka

It's a fine idea for a thread but cities grow with things like housing strategies, proper land-use policies for developers, and generally enticing residents within the CMA and HRM with various public policy items, including transportation items to make commuting and travelling within the city easier for its residents. Nobody moves to a city because one has a six-lane highway instead of a four-lane highway; they move to a city because of job prospects, housing prospects, and general quality of life.

What you're essentially proposing in the OP is that people will look more towards Halifax as a 'big city' by having things like subways or building new highways - these are items that are done when city growth is trended and anticipated for. What makes a 'big city' big is by more natural things, like livable neighbourhoods, consumer items and places of businesses, and a local economy and environment encouraging to its residents. The highways and subways can come once there's enough inherent demand from residents, not from presumed growth after the fact.

I don't really have any issue with any of your ideas per se, just in how the conversation is framed in the OP.

Form a roads perspective, my thinking is fix these and the city can support 1 million people without doing any other major roadwork. I do agree that just doing this would not guarantee 1 million people would be here. Things like proper land use and better transit will help get the people to want to come to Halifax. There is so much empty land in the area. If it is not already designated as parkland, then the city should plan how to grow it and build livable neighbourhoods. What the city must avoid is a Toronto/GTA like sprawl with nothing but miles of single family subdivisions.

Originally Posted by Good Baklava

Some of these additions would be needed as we inch closer to 1 million, but transportation projects definitely can’t drive population growth.

I could get behind a small northwest arm crossing, most peninsular cities have crossings from multiple angles (take Manhattan, Vancouver, Instanbul, Chongqing). Compared to even larger cities, Halifax is not that constrained with two bridges on the Dartmouth side. Rather, I think the issue is addressing other angles. I like the idea of a bridge bus lane, but a new LRT crossing seems overkill when the existing ferries do a very similar route just fine.

Generally speaking, the age of freeways cutting through the city is over; it would not make Halifax more modern even by a highway-loving American standard. The last thing Halifax wants is a repeat of Cogswell, and Toronto is debating about what to do with the Gardiner. Worldwide, downtown freeways are either being torn down or buried.

While I disagree about how population growth is worded, and whether any of these changes constitute modernity, or if modernity is even a valid end goal, I like the enthusiasm and the fact that you brought some bold ideas to the forum.

Both bridges back up during 'rush hour'. That is why a 3rd crossing and the crossing over the Northwest Arm are needed.

The ferries may do a similar route, but it would be slower than an LRT. This route would also be part of a more expansive RT system.

I am not suggesting a new highway through downtown. The highways I suggest circle both downtowns, but do not go into them. Think of it like Montreal. No major freeway goes through the core, but instead goes close enough to get you to it.

Originally Posted by someone123

If I were to design a Northwest Arm crossing it would have pedestrian paths, bike lanes, and 2-3 vehicle lanes (perhaps 1 transit if there are 3). I think having just an active transportation bridge could be good too. It would serve a dual purpose, connecting people on the peninsula side to Fleming Park, and connecting Armdale to the peninsula (Armdale would be walking distance to Dal). I would not do a highway-style bridge with big approaches.

I'm not really sold on the idea that it's guaranteed that the South End folks would all hate an attractive bridge that connects them up with new recreational sites. The Peace Bridge in Calgary or Millennium Bridge in London are somewhat comparable. They are small attractions in their own right. This bridge would run from South St to the park on the other side.

I agree with the transit, cycling and walking lanes. To ensure it is not gridlocked like the other bridges, it needs at least 2 lanes per side. Anything less is just another recipe for gridlock. Think of it like the MacKey Bridge with additional infrastructure. This would allow Spryfield and Purcells Cove area grow and still not be in gridlock.

Originally Posted by Good Baklava

I think a mix of modes is important too, it would keep our hypothetical bridge from being a one-trick pony. Instead of a six-lane monster, I believe quality over quantity is key for the area.

There will always be at least a small cranky crowd to greet every project, but perhaps the better the bridge the warmer its reception will be.

Agreed. Have everything on it and it equally makes people happy and pissed off at the same time.

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Cogswell will be a de-improvement, removing a high-capacity segment of the street network and replacing it with narrowed streets, at-grade intersections and roundabouts. Gridlock will be in the future of downtown if HRM's other initiatives in this area do not kill it first.

That interchange is just plain odd. Something should be done with it, but exactly what is not as clear.

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Agree (almost) completely.

I lived in the south end for about half my time in Halifax, but only ever visited the Dingle maybe twice. If there had been a bridge over the NW Arm, I surely would have visited more frequently (at least as often as I went to Point Pleasant).

The bridge itself would be an attraction, with a nice view down the Arm. The walking bridge in Fredericton over the Saint John River, and both of the two new bridges in Moncton over the Petitcodiac have purpose built lookoffs to admire the rivers below. Decorative street lighting would be nice. Halifax could surely do the same.

The bridge should be multimodality, designed for traffic, active transportation and cycling. Any pedestrian walkway should be broad and separated from traffic flow by a barrier. If there are to be bus/HOV lanes though, wouldn't there have to be four lanes (HOV lanes both inbound and outbound)??

My thinking would be that an LRT would cross it in it's own lane. The traffic lanes still would need to be at least 2 per side.