The next step in Halifax’s push for designated bus lanes has moved forward, targetting one of the peninsula’s busiest thoroughfares.
Tuesday saw Halifax Regional Council pass a motion giving staff the go-ahead to design designated bus lanes along portions of Robie Street and Young Street.
The decision follows a successful conversion of Gottingen Street in 2018 as part of its Integrated Mobility Plan.
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The dedicated bus lane on Gottingen Street functions during peak hours (7 a.m.-9 a.m. and 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Monday to Friday) and allows northbound transit buses to keep a tighter schedule along the route.
The goal is the same with the proposed bus corridor along Robie Street — although it would be completed in separate phases and only along areas where space would allow for a designated transit lane.
If adopted the designated bus corridor along Robie Street between Young Street and Quinpool Road would be in effect Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
It’s expected that a detailed design of the project will cost approximately $250,000.
The first phase of constructing the bus lanes are not expected to require purchasing property and are forecasted to be completed during 2020.
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Costs are only preliminary at this stage but the report in front of council on Tuesday provides a Class D estimate for construction at $1.9 million.
Staff said they’ve drawn from lessons they learned on the Gottingen Street bus corridor and are eager to implement them in the new project.