Concerns about Morris Street bike lanes ‘should not be ignored’: Halifax mayor

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is calling on Halifax to reverse its bike lane decision for Morris Street.

Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore says turning Morris Street into a one-way for vehicles could affect public safety, and those concerns “should not be ignored.”

Fillmore’s comments come after Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston sent an open letter to the mayor, saying his government would be “forced to act” if Halifax council doesn’t reverse its decision to turn Morris Street into a one-way as part of a bike lane project.

“Eliminating one lane to add bike lanes will contribute to traffic congestion, create unnecessary public safety risks and potentially jeopardize port activity,” said Houston in his letter, which he made public Wednesday.

“In addition, the Halifax Port Authority and PSA Halifax have raised concerns that should be respected. Simply put, it is irresponsible to prioritize bike lanes over a key economic driver for the province, which is exactly what the port is.”

Fillmore echoed the premier’s concerns in a statement to CTV News Thursday, adding that Emera, Ambassatours and local residents have also spoken out against the plan to transform Morris Street.

Fillmore said Emergency Health Services recently warned that pre-hospital care delivery and public safety could be compromised if the project goes ahead.

“These types of interventions should not be ignored. They’re data-driven warnings about operational impacts and public risk,” said Fillmore. “As Mayor, I will not ignore threats to our economic competitiveness, risks to public safety, or alarm bells about dramatic cost escalations.”

Deputy Mayor Tony Mancini said all parties knew about the Morris Street decision and the council smoothed out any concerns.

“Our staff were working on design for Morris Street that involved all emergency services, police, fire, and NHS were all part of the conversation and including the port, they’re all part of the conversation,” Mancini said. “They had concerns about various designs that were back and forth, and then they said, here, thumbs up from everyone. What’s happened, what’s changed?”

In his letter, Houston cited the recently-passed Bill 24, which gives the provincial government authority over transportation projects in Nova Scotia municipalities.

In his statement Thursday, Fillmore noted the CAO cautioned council the province could intervene if it proceeded with the plan to turn Morris Street into a one-way.

“It is not surprising that the Premier has asked the municipality to reverse its recent decision to make Morris Street one-way to accommodate new bike lanes,” said Fillmore. “The province had made it clear that provincial intervention would be an option if municipal actions are inconsistent with broader goals of economic growth, easing congestion and enhancing public safety.

“Halifax, home to half of Nova Scotia’s population and more than half of its economy, is growing faster than ever. It is a shared responsibility of municipal, provincial, and federal governments to ensure our city functions and our infrastructure keeps pace.”

Mancini said he would prefer to work with the premier, not fight him.

“I’m also concerned that our business community and our residents are now looking at us and have less confidence in both orders of government because they see this conflict that’s going on,” he said.

The premier has asked council to reverse its decision by Aug. 6.

Halifax bike lane controversy

The Morris Street East Connection is a proposed bicycle network that would connect Morris Street, University Avenue and segments of South Street, Cartaret Street and Oakland Road via bike lanes.

Halifax council approved the 53-kilometre cycling network in 2017. Sixty per cent of it is complete and costs have gone from a projected $25 million to an estimated $90 million.

“In June, after learning that costs had dramatically escalated and realizing that some bike lane plans could worsen traffic congestion, I proposed that HRM Council pause the roll-out of the bike network,” said Fillmore.

“This would allow time to consult with key stakeholders and ensure that the bike network wouldn’t compromise public safety and economic competitiveness.”

Fillmore put forward a motion in June to pause the construction of new bike lanes in the municipality entirely, but it was defeated 12-to-five.

The mayor made his case again during a council meeting last week, this time calling on council to halt the Morris Street segment of the network and consider alternative cycling connections for Morris Street.

That motion was defeated 13-to-four.

-With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Sean Mott and Vanessa Wright

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