General Updates and News

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

No right turn from Nantucket to Wyse (where there used to be a slip lane with Austin had bulldozed) except on a dedicated signal.

That one really, really grinds my gears. I used that slip lane quite frequently and curse Austin out loud every time I find myself on Nantucket and forget yet again that it's gone. If I remember in time, I'll actually cut into the Dartmouth Shopping Center lot (or even the McDonald's lot, which is connected to it) and make my way to Wyse from there.

A real piss-off.

The Hawthorne-Prince Albert intersection was, as you know, equally bastardized. To make it even worse, one night recently left-turn arrows were painted on Hawthorne, both north and southbound, leaving the impression to the uninitiated that only left turns could be made - that traveling straight across PAR or turning right onto it were suddenly prohibited. Absolutely mind-boggling. I noticed this morning that the offending arrows have now been ground off the pavement (not simply painted over). I'm sure the whole episode was unintentional - just someone's boneheaded error, but it just seemed typical of what's happening on our roads lately.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by Saul Goode

That one really, really grinds my gears. I used that slip lane quite frequently and curse Austin out loud every time I find myself on Nantucket and forget yet again that it's gone. If I remember in time, I'll actually cut into the Dartmouth Shopping Center lot (or even the McDonald's lot, which is connected to it) and make my way to Wyse from there.

A real piss-off.

The Hawthorne-Prince Albert intersection was, as you know, equally bastardized. To make it even worse, one night recently left-turn arrows were painted on Hawthorne, both north and southbound, leaving the impression to the uninitiated that only left turns could be made - that traveling straight across PAR or turning right onto it were suddenly prohibited. Absolutely mind-boggling. I noticed this morning that the offending arrows have now been ground off the pavement (not simply painted over). I'm sure the whole episode was unintentional - just someone's boneheaded error, but it just seemed typical of what's happening on our roads lately.

This misguided apporach to traffic management must end. Why is there no right turn from Thistle to Wyse Rd. by the Sportsplex? This has created a very dangerous situation as many vehicles turn right on red anyway just because they realize it is nonsensical. Morover, this is a main exit route for buses from the nearby terminal who now must wait at a red light for no reason. Perhaps Sam Austin can explain how this no turn right on red makes sense and back it up with data.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Empire

This misguided apporach to traffic management must end. Why is there no right turn from Thistle to Wyse Rd. by the Sportsplex? This has created a very dangerous situation as many vehicles turn right on red anyway just because they realize it is nonsensical. Morover, this is a main exit route for buses from the nearby terminal who now must wait at a red light for no reason. Perhaps Sam Austin can explain how this no turn right on red makes sense and back it up with data.

At the time when the construction was announced, he said that slip lanes were all hazards regardless of location because cyclists were getting mowed down by uncaring, evil drivers and hence such lanes must be removed, complete and utter nonsense of course. The same rationale was used at the Wyse/Boland intersection where you sit and wait for a fleeting green signal to make a right turn. That intersection also has a green/red signal just for cyclists - it took a long time to recognize the outline of a bicycle etched into the lens - which is laughable because, of course, cyclists generally feel free to ignore any traffic signals or signage, and you almost never see cyclists there anyway, so it is another of his complete wastes of tax dollars like the speed bumps and AusSticks he loves so much. He had also mentioned the similar slip lane at the intersection of Wyse heading north where it meets Nantucket by the Prezsler building would also be demolished for the same reason, but somehow that survived. This is all part of a more general sentiment among cycling activists that right turns on red should be universally banned because they are unsafe despite the absence of actual, y'know, statistics.

[LikesBikes]

Traffic is bad so our solution should be to punish non-drivers so that they're forced to drive, adding more cars to the already clogged roads. Brilliant!

[Dartguard]

Originally Posted by LikesBikes

Traffic is bad so our solution should be to punish non-drivers so that they're forced to drive, adding more cars to the already clogged roads. Brilliant!

Perhaps you missed my comment about waiting for at least 4 lights trying to turn right on to the 103. See Keith's remarks regarding the discretionary regard that folks on bikes have for laws of the road. Bikes will never be more than 1 % of the travelling public in this City and especially as we grow into the future.
Halifax is still a relatively cheap place to buy a house in Canada. Homebuyers, if they use bikes, do it as recreation.

I understand what the planners are trying to do in creating longer wait times for folks to get pissed off and maybe just not take that discretionary trip. The councillors driving this however will eventually get voted out.

[bartekci]

Sigh, this is probably my fault for triggering someone, but can we not? We already argue over the same thing in the Active Transport thread.

Please let's go back to our regular programming of general updates that don't warrant their own thread.

[GTG_78]

Originally Posted by LikesBikes

Traffic is bad so our solution should be to punish non-drivers so that they're forced to drive, adding more cars to the already clogged roads. Brilliant!

Non-drivers are not being punished by allowing drivers to turn right on red.

It is apparent to anyone with eyes that the revamp around Wyse Road / MacDonald has been a complete disaster for traffic management. HRM - spearheaded by the District 5 councillor - has made one of the key chokepoints even worse.

The irony is that Wyse Road is *still* unfriendly to pedestrians and mass transit. HRM could have expanded sidewalks or looked at a dedicated pedway for north of the Nantucket / Wyse intersection (which is overbuilt and pedestrian unfriendly). Instead, the city prioritized cyclists above cars, buses, and pedestrians.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Dartguard

I understand what the planners are trying to do in creating longer wait times for folks to get pissed off and maybe just not take that discretionary trip. The councillors driving this however will eventually get voted out.

Unfortunately there are still a substantial number of uninformed or possibly delusional voters who think he is doing a good job, not because of his policy positions but merely because he does a monthly newsletter where he bloviates about all the useless things he spends public money on, while bashing the province for failing to take care of the homeless or build enough welfare housing. This from someone who fought hard to reduce building heights in accordance with obsolete planning rules, despite being in a housing crisis. Those voters need to give their heads a shake.

[Haliguy]

Originally Posted by GTG_78

Non-drivers are not being punished by allowing drivers to turn right on red.

It is apparent to anyone with eyes that the revamp around Wyse Road / MacDonald has been a complete disaster for traffic management. HRM - spearheaded by the District 5 councillor - has made one of the key chokepoints even worse.

The irony is that Wyse Road is *still* unfriendly to pedestrians and mass transit. HRM could have expanded sidewalks or looked at a dedicated pedway for north of the Nantucket / Wyse intersection (which is overbuilt and pedestrian unfriendly). Instead, the city prioritized cyclists above cars, buses, and pedestrians.

I drive and bike through there. I don't see it being any worse for vehicles and its now better to bike through there.

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by Haliguy

I drive and bike through there. I don't see it being any worse for vehicles...

I find that a truly puzzling conclusion. I've driven through there very frequently for many decades (and continue to do so), and I find the current layout ridiculous. And I don't think I'm alone.

Elimination of the slip lane from Nantucket onto Wyse Road alone makes me curse out loud.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by Saul Goode

I find that a truly puzzling conclusion. I've driven through there very frequently for many decades (and continue to do so), and I find the current layout ridiculous. And I don't think I'm alone.

Elimination of the slip lane from Nantucket onto Wyse Road alone makes me curse out loud.

Count me in the "slip lanes have no business in a pedestrian-heavy area" camp. They're designed to let vehicles slide through unimpeded without significantly slowing, and drivers often read them as little more than an extension of the straightaway. Intersections without them are intrinsically more dangerous than an intersection designed without them, as is demonstrated by actual research. There's nothing wrong with slowing down and taking a 90-degree turn.

[Haliguy]

Originally Posted by Saul Goode

I find that a truly puzzling conclusion. I've driven through there very frequently for many decades (and continue to do so), and I find the current layout ridiculous. And I don't think I'm alone.

Elimination of the slip lane from Nantucket onto Wyse Road alone makes me curse out loud.

Not sure about that one, but I don't seen any difference coming up from Alderley and coming down Nantucket onto the the bridge.

[GTG_78]

Originally Posted by Haliguy

I drive and bike through there. I don't see it being any worse for vehicles and its now better to bike through there.

Sorry, but having had to obtain and provide data for one of our clients on the other side of Nantucket for a new development, that is just not accurate. There has been a pronounced increase in gridlock, and the 'improvements' are regarded as a running joke. And there will be a concerted push to scale them back as soon as there is a sea change in HRM council.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by GTG_78

Sorry, but having had to obtain and provide data for one of our clients on the other side of Nantucket for a new development, that is just not accurate. There has been a pronounced increase in gridlock,

I've noticed an increase in heavy traffic as well, but all over the urban core. I think it has more do with the city adding 30,000 people in the past two years without an effective rapid-transit system in place--or, for that matter, enough in the way of non-car transportation options in general.

[LikesBikes]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

I've noticed an increase in heavy traffic as well, but all over the urban core. I think it has more do with the city adding 30,000 people in the past two years without an effective rapid-transit system in place--or, for that matter, enough in the way of non-car transportation options in general.

This is the heart of the issue. Our population has increased significantly in the past couple of years and the city's transportation system doesn't have the capacity to serve everyone.

Since our roads are already pretty clogged, we need to get people to use more efficient modes of transport, like transit and AT, as more cars on the road will just add to congestion, pollution and making the city less attractive a place to be. Even if we ignore these things, to actually build the road network able to accommodate everyone using a car to get around would require massive wave of demolishing homes, businesses, and existing transportation infrastructure - i.e., not politically or economically feasible.

[Haliguy]

Originally Posted by GTG_78

Sorry, but having had to obtain and provide data for one of our clients on the other side of Nantucket for a new development, that is just not accurate. There has been a pronounced increase in gridlock, and the 'improvements' are regarded as a running joke. And there will be a concerted push to scale them back as soon as there is a sea change in HRM council.

Lol...give a me a beak. Its not all about cars!

[Haliguy]

Originally Posted by LikesBikes

This is the heart of the issue. Our population has increased significantly in the past couple of years and the city's transportation system doesn't have the capacity to serve everyone.

Since our roads are already pretty clogged, we need to get people to use more efficient modes of transport, like transit and AT, as more cars on the road will just add to congestion, pollution and making the city less attractive a place to be. Even if we ignore these things, to actually build the road network able to accommodate everyone using a car to get around would require massive wave of demolishing homes, businesses, and existing transportation infrastructure - i.e., not politically or economically feasible.

Agreed, however it is balance with an increase population we will still have to expand our road network for cars at the same time getting more people using alternate modes of transportation. That includes expanding alternative transportation infrastructure to ease the amount of growth in car traffic.

[Colin May]

I ignore several 'no right turn' signs if it is safe to do so. The 'No right turn' from Wyse to the bridge is stupid and causes traffic backup and an increase in vehicle emissions. Many of the changes championed by several councillors in the urban centre cause more pollution. HRP does not enforce many of the traffic violations from the range of 'No parking' to 'No right/left turn'. For many years one or two HRP cars would briefly park on Dahlia and then Tulip to enable the issuance of tickets for violating the 'No left turn 4-6 pm' rule. HRP gave up the easy cash windfall over 5 years ago. The 'mini chaos' at Thistle & Victoria when school is out at 3 pm has resulted in no accidents despite kids and parents crossing the roads at any place and any time they consider convenient.
Generally speaking people respect rules that make sense and ignore rules that make little or no sense. Some people seem to think we have carnage on our roads but never provide data to support the changes they propose or force through.

[Dartguard]

Originally Posted by LikesBikes

This is the heart of the issue. Our population has increased significantly in the past couple of years and the city's transportation system doesn't have the capacity to serve everyone.

Since our roads are already pretty clogged, we need to get people to use more efficient modes of transport, like transit and AT, as more cars on the road will just add to congestion, pollution and making the city less attractive a place to be. Even if we ignore these things, to actually build the road network able to accommodate everyone using a car to get around would require massive wave of demolishing homes, businesses, and existing transportation infrastructure - i.e., not politically or economically feasible.

Why are the roads clogged? I believe another poster who studied the issue in a professional capacity mentioned an interesting word.Gridlock.The City could reverse some of the silly bikelike TM recent changes and release some of the grid lock. Eliminate the signal only turns and reintroduce the slip lanes in Places such as Nantucket and Cumberland Drive.

There seems to be a shaving a melting ice cube situation with Metro Transit right now. Working conditions for the drivers are making the career choice untenable . I witnessed on Twitter a driver getting assaulted by a young Lady at least seven times before another female passenger pulls the assaulter off the Bus. The Driver to his credit just took it but given the assaulter is a member of a certain community I doubt anything would be done to her should the driver pursue charges. No should have to take that garbage but the levels of post Covid crazy out there seems to be increasing. Split shifts destroying 12-16 hours of a drivers day makes people seek a different line of work. Management issues that should be easy to fix but we seem to be living in a world of very comfortable and unassailable empires.

A friend of mine used to be very happy to take the Link from Portland Hills to her office in DT Halifax but MT took that option away and She feels very uncomfortable with the "character's " that share the bus route now. If its creepy or shady Folks won't use it. My Friend has been able to negotiate an at Home work arrangement. Not everyone has that option. The stay at home work option I do think is very much responsible for hollowing out MT's ridership. It would be interesting to see how much work from home has reduced Car trips.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Haliguy

Not sure about that one, but I don't seen any difference coming up from Alderley and coming down Nantucket onto the the bridge.

You really should open your eyes when you are piloting a wheeled vehicle of any sort. It is clearly far, far worse.