Halifax Regional Municipality Approves Dedicated Rapid Transit Bus Corridors in $41M Transit Plan

HALIFAX, NS — Halifax Regional Council approved a $41-million capital commitment on Saturday to construct dedicated, transit-priority bus corridors along Bayers Road, Robie Street, and Gottingen Street, advancing the municipality's Rapid Transit Strategy.

Transit Priority Infrastructure and Signal Technology

The project introduces painted transit-only bus lanes, queue-jump lanes at major intersections, and automated Transit Signal Priority (TSP) transponders on Halifax Transit buses. The engineering design reduces transit travel times by up to 35% during peak morning and evening commuting hours along the congested peninsula access routes.

The project also reconstructs pedestrian sidewalks and installs protected bicycle lanes along the corridors to improve active transportation connectivity.

Urban Growth and Climate Targets

Halifax's population has expanded rapidly over recent years, causing severe congestion on arterial peninsula bridges and roadways. Municipal transit planners emphasized that dedicated transit lanes provide the capacity needed to move thousands of daily commuters without widening urban roadways.

Local neighborhood associations and business improvement districts endorsed the transit lanes, noting that reliable transit service is critical to support medium-density residential developments planned along Robie Street.

Construction Phasing

Utility relocation and roadway reconfiguration along Bayers Road will commence in October 2026, with the full rapid transit bus corridor opening to service by autumn 2027.