Herring Cove Road Conversion Fact Sheet (PDF format)

Do you want to see bike lanes and fewer motor vehicle lanes on Herring Cove Road ?

If YES, write to Regional Council ASAP and tell them that you support HRM staff's proposed road conversion. Council has already heard plenty of opposition to the project so if you want bike lanes on Herring Cove Road within the next year, Council needs to hear your support for the project. We expect that Regional Council will vote on the issue during the first week of July so NOW is the time to get your letters in.

Here's where to send your messages (see below for possible writing points):

Email: clerks@halifax.ca and be sure to write “PLEASE FORWARD TO REGIONAL COUNCIL” at the top

Mail:
Regional Council
PO Box 1749
Halifax, NS
B3J 3A5

Fax:
902-490-4208


The proposed changes

About 900m of Herring Cove Road (Old Sambro Rd. to Hartlen Ave.) will be resurfaced in 2010 and city staff has recommended that HRM take this opportunity to convert this stretch of road (currently four motor vehicle lanes) to two lanes, one centre turning lane and two bike lanes. Currently, even the most confident cyclists hesitate to ride on Herring Cove Road because of excessive motor vehicle speeds and limited road space. The proposed road conversion will slow traffic down to the speed limit (50km/hr) and provide a designated space for cyclists. Ultimately, these changes will make the area much safer and
more attractive for all road users including drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and transit users.

Unfortunately, the road conversion is facing substantial opposition from the local business community and is at risk of being quashed. The Spryfield and District Business Commission fears that the reduction of lanes will reduce traffic capacity and discourage use. While this is a valid concern, HRM traffic engineers and multiple studies of similar road conversions in North America have supplied overwhelming evidence to show that these changes will not cause more congestion or limit vehicle access to parking lots. Numerous case studies, in fact, show that business owners often end up happier with these types of road changes in the long run.

Please see the Herring Cove Road brief for more background information.


Please feel free to use any or all of the points below in your letter:

•  Indicate if you use Herring Cove Road (as a driver or a cyclist) regularly or have used it before.

•  The proposed changes will increase cyclist safety on Herring Cove Road and perhaps even encourage new cyclists to ride in the area.

•  Herring Cove road is an important part of the active transportation network in Spryfield.

•  The proposed changes fall in line with the Active Transportation Plan and the Spryfield Community Development Streetscape Strategy (both of which were developed with considerable community consultation).

•  There is overwhelming evidence from HRM staff and examples from other cities in North America that the proposed lane reduction can easily handle predicted traffic levels on Herring Cove Road .

•  I trust that you will vote in favour of the lane reduction and bike lane construction when it comes to Regional Council in the coming weeks.