5 days ago
Halifax deputy mayor seeking report on upcoming bike lane projects, costs
Two weeks after Halifax council voted down a motion to pause the construction of new bike lanes in the municipality, the deputy mayor is seeking a report on the estimated costs of upcoming cycling projects and possible alternatives.
Deputy Mayor Tony Mancini, who is also the councillor for Dartmouth East-Burnside, is bringing forward a motion that, if passed, would have the chief administrative officer write a staff report on all AAA bike network capital projects from 2026 to 2029.
The report would include the estimated budgets of the projects, opportunities for additional external funding sources and assessments on the 'feasibility of alternative network solutions that could reduce future costs.'
Council will vote on the motion at their meeting on Tuesday.
Previous motion defeated
Earlier this month council voted 12-to-five against a motion from Mayor Andy Fillmore that would have paused awarding any new contracts for new bike lane designs or construction capital projects until a staff report on traffic capacity and congestion, and possible alternative network solutions, was completed.
Fillmore said he brought that motion forward over 'growing public concern over worsening traffic congestion.'
'Right now, we're seeing road space reduced before alternatives like reliable transit or safe, connected bike routes are in place,' Fillmore said in an open letter. 'Beyond the obvious frustration and quality of life factors experienced by Halifax residents, congestion also harms economic productivity and increases vehicle emissions.'
The motion drew sharp criticism from the biking community, which staged a big rally outside of City Hall prior to the vote, and from councillors who voted it down.
'Bike lanes do not cause congestion,' Councillor Sam Austin said at the time. 'What does cause congestion is a municipality that has not done the work to provide alternatives. Delay makes it worse.'
While the original motion was defeated, council did approve an alternative motion for a report that will provide updated alternatives to the protected bike lane option on Morris Street.
Halifax's planned 53-kilometre cycling network started in 2017 and was expected to be completed in 2022, but it is running behind scheduled with nearly 60 per cent of it finished.
The project was initially projected to cost $25 million but has risen to an estimated $90 million or more.
More to come…
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