Friends Of Halifax Common

Groundbreaking Study Highlights How Design & Development Decisions Affect Embodied Carbon. (& affordable housing!) treehugger.com/real-estate-de… via @string

@Boenau Do you have any illustrations of BRT or light rail that uses a single bi-directional lane for a few blocks instead of road widening to accommodate 2 bus lanes?

Here's why public transit should be a major part of pedestrian master plans: when it's frequent and convenient, the bus is an express sidewalk. It's part of a walking trip. The express sidewalk is a deliberate reframe to help boost one of the critical ingredients of a multimodal city. People say "I only saw 5 people on that bus," but no one says "I only saw 5 people on that sidewalk." Better bus coverage will make us an even more walkable city.

@Boenau Do you have any examples of bi-directional lanes for BRt or light rail? Zurich has adapted these to within the existing street space buy transit priority signals and without street widening but there aren't these kinds of illustrations. thanks!

Public agencies, consultants, advocacy groups, teachers... all of them would benefit from having access to a digital library with explainer videos like this.

HRM councillor Virginia Hinch's motion to re-visit look the $200m Robie St widening plan was defeated. Write clerks@halifax.ca to thank Councillors Cuttell/Purdy for their "Yes!" & remind the rest of Council there's budget & housing crises. clerks@halifax.ca

“There’s more cars crossing the bridge. So that’s what’s called induced demand. You’ve made it easier to drive so more trips are being taken", Councillor Laura White (Halifax South Downtown). AND $200m to widen Robie St even for public transit will increase traffic & congestion.

@gregsaysso @FawcettAtkinson @AndyFillmoreHFX @HfxExaminer @FriendsHalifax @haeleydirisio @CTVAtlantic Meanwhile, @TimHoustonNS and his @nspc govt. get their first lesson in #InducedDemand. Ouch. @jen_taplin Has losing the tolls helped or hurt? It’s 10% more traffic, right off the bat. #nspoli #nspc #TrafficEngineering #Halifax #HRM saltwire.com/nova-scotia/ha…

@gregsaysso @FawcettAtkinson @AndyFillmoreHFX @HfxExaminer @FriendsHalifax @haeleydirisio @CTVAtlantic @TimHoustonNS @nspc @jen_taplin JEN TAPLIN: Tolls can be an effective way of easing traffic if they’re done right, according to Halifax infrastructure investment analyst @denysullivan. Halifax bridge toll blunder: Houston’s election gimmick worsens gridlock Oct. 2025 op-ed. #HRM saltwire.com/nova-scotia/ha…

@ndbain @BigJMcC @gregsaysso @FawcettAtkinson @AndyFillmoreHFX @HfxExaminer @haeleydirisio @CTVAtlantic @TimHoustonNS @nspc @jen_taplin Better transit, commuter rail, ferry services could make it smooth too!

@BigJMcC @gregsaysso @FawcettAtkinson @AndyFillmoreHFX @HfxExaminer @FriendsHalifax @haeleydirisio @CTVAtlantic @TimHoustonNS @nspc @jen_taplin as someone who crosses over and back every day for work, it’s definitely much smoother now on the average day than it was before

@FawcettAtkinson Halifax is poised to slash municipal funding for reducing planet-warming emissions by a third, slowing a suite of programs like electrifying city buses and retrofitting buildings to make them more energy-efficient. #HRM #HfxTransit nationalobserver.com/2026/01/23/new…

@BigJMcC @gregsaysso @FawcettAtkinson @AndyFillmoreHFX @HfxExaminer @haeleydirisio @CTVAtlantic @TimHoustonNS @nspc @jen_taplin Removing bridge tolls added 10,000 vehicles/day to the Halifax peninsula. Is anyone tracking how many more vehicles are coming because of free hospital parking? Losing revenue AND inducing demand vs. working to improve transit, rail, active transportation, public health/safety.

@gregsaysso @FawcettAtkinson @AndyFillmoreHFX @HfxExaminer @FriendsHalifax @haeleydirisio Who knew that 'fun with figures' was one of @AndyFillmoreHFX's strong points? And the media keeps regurgitating them. @CTVAtlantic By last year, the total projected cost of the program increased to $85M and more than $66M in work still needs to be done. ctvnews.ca/atlantic/nova-…

Stop the $200m Robie St Widening! HRM budget public participation is Tues, Jan 27, 6pm. Email clerks@halifax.ca by 4:30pm Mon to register to speak to council, online or in-person. "Don't bulldoze affordable homes, cut 80 trees for a 2nd bus lane, use transit priority signals!"

1963: “The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar, in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle, is actually the right to destroy the city.” - Lewis Mumford Today:

Barcelona closed off hundreds of streets to traffic and saw major public health improvements. Why can't your city do the same?

@gregsaysso @FawcettAtkinson @AndyFillmoreHFX @HfxExaminer For the sake of balance, @FriendsHalifax says residents in the area strongly oppose the plan. Story by @haeleydirisio Nov. 2025. ctvnews.ca/atlantic/nova-…

New data ranks Halifax 3rd worst in Canada re traffic congestion cbc.ca/news/canada/no… Population growth is 1 factor but the Premier removing bridge tolls added 10,000 cars/day. Who knows what free hospital parking added? time for BRT pilot w/o dedicated bus lanes for a route?

The 12 Golden Secrets of the Economics of Kindness Secret #1: Humans are a Cooperative Species open.substack.com/pub/theeconomi…

Scientist wins 'Environment Nobel' for shedding light on hidden fungal networks phys.org/news/2026-01-s… via @physorg_com inspiring!

Our streets —as public spaces— are not fixed. They continuously change their shape and function. As political leaders you can either deny that and remain stuck in traffic engineering. Or you can be #courageous and #curious in exploring their next phase. (🎞️ by @EmmanuelSPV)

Construction emissions are higher than thought, new study published in the journal Nature Cities. On average, 10–20% of global GHGs. Solutions? better materials and smarter designs. Note: why does no one mention reducing demolitions? phys.org/news/2026-01-e… via @physorg_com

cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2026/01/13/sev… Notes on 7 rules for surviving the real estate crash. “After decades of speculation-driven escalation — fuelled by global capital, low interest rates and steeply rising land values enriching private owners — the market is undergoing a real reset.” Yet the crisis could also serve as catalyst, he writes. Drawing from principles of land economics, sustainable design and equitable urbanism, he proposes seven rules to help us navigate this downturn and emerge with a more just, resilient and equitable Vancouver. His concluding comment: “This correction hurts, but it also clarifies. Housing must serve people, not just capital. By following these rules, Vancouver can emerge not just recovered, but transformed — more equitable, sustainable and truly livable.“