Halifax, we need to have a serious chat about our transit system. It could and should be so much more. Right now, Halifax Transit is underperforming in ways that impact our daily lives, commutes, and even our city’s growth. When elected, I will make Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) funding my t
op priority—because we deserve a transit system that truly works for everyone.
I recently took a trip with bus advocates from More Than Buses. We traveled from downtown through Bedford, a ride that was eye-opening in more ways than one. That day, there were over ten #8 buses on the road, and all but one were running 20-50 minutes behind schedule (they can see this in real time with open data). Now, I’m not a transit expert, but even I can tell that this is not the hallmark of a well-oiled machine.
Bus Rapid Transit is the Way to More
Our transit system needs a major overhaul, and the key to making that happen is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). BRT is like the love child of a bus and a metro system—high capacity, high frequency, and way more reliable. It’s more than just a few extra buses on the road. It’s about building a reliable, efficient system that connects people to where they need to go.
The Bus Rapid Transit Strategy proposes four BRT lines, serving areas within walking distance of 120,000 residents, with buses running every ten minutes. This is the level of service we need to make transit a viable option for more Haligonians.
Why We Need Bus Rapid Transit Yesterday
You might be wondering, “Why BRT? Why not just fix what we’ve got?” Good question! The answer lies in efficiency and connectivity. BRT will help Halifax Transit get rid of duplicate routes and weird scheduling quirks that cause so many problems. For example, some express routes currently end up driving back across town empty just to start over. With a streamlined BRT network, we can create more logical, direct routes that are easier for both riders and drivers to navigate.
Moreover, this isn’t just about making transit better for people who already use it; it’s about encouraging more people to choose public transit over driving. Right now, the biggest barrier to using buses in Halifax is reliability. When you don’t know if your bus will show up on time—or at all—why wouldn’t you just take your car?
Halifax Transit’s Current Challenges
According to an analysis by a local resident using open data, Halifax Transit is not living up to its potential. Here are some key findings:
- Overcrowding and Underuse: Some bus routes are overcrowded, while others are significantly underutilized. This imbalance shows a misallocation of resources and highlights the need for a more efficient network [11].
- Inefficiencies in Scheduling: Many buses are scheduled to run at times when ridership is low, leading to empty buses and wasted fuel. At the same time, there are high-demand periods when buses are too full to accommodate everyone.
- On-Time Performance Issues: Delays are rampant across the system. In some cases, buses are late 20% of the time or more, making it difficult for riders to rely on public transit for timely commutes. This unreliability is one of the biggest barriers to increasing ridership.
We already knew this, right? But Halifax Transit doesn’t seem to want to use the data to improve things. These statistics paint a picture of a system struggling to meet the needs of its users. You can read more about these findings in this Halifax Examiner article.
Why Hasn’t BRT Been Implemented Yet?
The answer, unfortunately, is a lack of funding commitment and political will. The folks at More Than Buses have called this delay an “unforced error that could set us back years” in our transit development. We need BRT now to solve the existing inefficiencies and prepare for the future. Investing in BRT is not just about spending money—it’s about saving time, reducing stress, and building a more vibrant, connected Halifax.
Planning Pitfalls: What’s Holding Us Back?
- Misalignment in Planning: The Moving Forward Together Plan Check-In highlights several issues with current transit planning. For example, there are instances where multiple bus routes overlap, leading to service duplication, while other areas remain underserved. This misalignment wastes resources and frustrates riders who face long wait times or crowded buses.
- Lack of Future-Focused Planning: The Windsor Street Exchange Redevelopment Plan is another example of planning shortcomings. As noted by More Than Buses, there’s been little consideration for how future transit routes will connect through this critical corridor. Without integrating transit into these major infrastructure projects, we’re missing opportunities to build a cohesive, efficient network that supports growth and mobility.
Transit planning needs to be forward-thinking and be included in all planning for future growth nodes and developments or we will forever be playing catch up with our growing population.
Beyond BRT: Additional Actions to Improve Halifax Transit
To truly fix transit, we need a comprehensive approach that goes beyond just implementing BRT. Here’s what we can do:
- Identify Major Corridors for Growth:
- Our land use plans and transportation strategies should prioritize development along major transit corridors. This will create dense, transit-supportive communities where people can live, work, and shop without needing a car.
- Reduce Route Duplication:
- Streamlining bus routes will reduce overlap and confusion. With Bus Rapid Transit, we can create a more straightforward, reliable network that makes sense for riders and optimizes resources.
- Improve Frequency and Reliability:
- Investing in transit priority measures like dedicated bus lanes and signal priority can improve reliability, even on non-BRT routes. Frequent, reliable service is key to increasing ridership and reducing car dependence.
The Integrated Mobility Plan: Connecting the Dots
BRT isn’t happening in a vacuum. It’s part of Halifax’s larger Integrated Mobility Plan (IMP), which is all about creating connected, healthy, and sustainable ways to move people, not just cars, around the city. The IMP focuses on making it easier for people to walk, take transit and cycle—because let’s face it, very few people are going to bike to work without protected bike lanes.
The plan includes key principles like creating “Complete Communities,” which means building neighborhoods where people can live, work, and play without needing to drive everywhere. It’s about moving people, not just vehicles, and managing congestion through smart planning rather than endless road expansions.
The IMP and BRT are two sides of the same coin—they both aim to make Halifax a more livable city, one bus lane at a time. A well-implemented BRT, supported by the IMP, can help reduce traffic congestion, lower emissions, and create more economic opportunities by making it easier for everyone to get around the city.
Let’s Get on Board, Halifax
If you agree Bus Rapid Transit is the best next step in fixing Halifax Transit issues, please support my campaign to be your Councillor for District 16. Every donation helps and every volunteer is appreciated.
It’s time to stop settling for a transit system that barely works and start pushing for one that works for everyone. Bus Rapid Transit is the first step, but we need to do more. We need to integrate transit planning with our growth strategies, reduce inefficiencies, and make sure our buses are running where and when people need them.
And for the love of popcorn, get the air conditioning and heaters working properly.
How does Rapid transit move through traffic any better than the present bus system?
Jane, that’s a GREAT question and I should have made that more clear in the article. A big part of BRT is putting in bus priority lanes on the major corridors. You’ll see a couple of them around town now. The one I’m most familiar with is the one on either side of Bayer’s Road. This allows the bus to bypass the long lineups of cars and get to destinations faster.