Halifax spending $64 million on land to widen Robie Street for bus lanes

Halifax’s Robie Street Widening Project Sparks Debate Among Residents and Councillors

In a recent update to the city’s transportation committee, municipal staff outlined a multimillion-dollar plan to widen Robie Street, a busy roadway in Halifax. The plan includes creating bus lanes in both directions on Robie to improve transit now and in the future.

The city has already installed bus lanes in some sections of Robie in 2020, with plans to expand them further. The goal is to accommodate two future rapid-transit routes that will run along Robie Street. To make room for these bus lanes, the city is buying up land to widen the road between Cunard and Young streets.

The land acquisition process is in full swing, with the municipality aiming to purchase 33 properties by the fall of 2026. So far, about half of these properties have been secured at a cost of approximately $64 million. This investment is part of a larger effort to enhance Halifax’s transit system and support the city’s growing population.

However, not everyone is on board with the Robie Street widening project. Long-term tenants in affordable apartments are concerned about losing their homes during a housing crisis, while some business owners have already been displaced or forced to close down.

Resident Peggy Cameron, a vocal opponent of the widening project, highlighted the impact on the community and the environment. The section of Robie between Almon and Cunard streets, where the road is narrowest, will see the removal of 40 mature trees. While new trees will be planted as part of the project, Cameron argues that the existing trees provide irreplaceable benefits to the neighborhood.

Cameron also raised questions about the effectiveness of widening the road for transit purposes. She pointed to alternative options used in cities like Zurich, Switzerland, such as traffic priority signals, which allow buses to move ahead of traffic without widening the road.

Councillor Patty Cuttell echoed these concerns during the meeting, requesting more detailed information on transit time savings and alternative solutions to widening the road. Cuttell stressed the importance of considering all perspectives and trade-offs before moving forward with such a significant and costly project.

Despite the opposition, Halifax’s manager of transportation planning, Mike Connors, defended the decision to widen Robie Street. He explained that after considering various options, widening the road was deemed necessary to accommodate high-volume traffic and support future transit improvements.

Connors highlighted the potential for median bus lanes in the center of Robie Street, which could further improve bus travel times and pave the way for future light rail transit upgrades. He emphasized the importance of rapid transit in enabling high-density development along Robie Street and Young Street.

While some councillors expressed satisfaction with the project’s direction, concerns remain about the impact on residents and businesses along Robie Street. Halifax staff will continue to work on the design for the bus lanes on the north end of Robie Street, with construction expected to begin in 2028.

Overall, the Robie Street widening project is a complex and contentious issue that requires careful consideration of all stakeholders’ interests. As Halifax moves forward with this ambitious transit plan, the city must balance the need for improved transportation with the concerns of its residents and the environment.