Halifax council seeks report on cost-saving alternatives to AAA bike network

Halifax council voted for a report on alternatives to the AAA bikeway.

A majority of Halifax Regional Council approved a motion for a report looking into cost-saving alternatives to the all-ages and abilities (AAA) bikeway network on Tuesday.

Mayor Andy Fillmore, who has advocated for cheaper options for the bike network, brought forward the motion during council’s regular meeting. The motion passed 10-to-five, with councillors Sam Austin, Shawn Cleary, Kathryn Morse, Janet Steele and Laura White voting against it.

The motion barely made it to the voting process as a move to defer it to a later date was narrowly defeated eight-to-seven.

Fillmore’s motion seeks “cost saving opportunities” by considering alternatives that do not meet the AAA standard for projects planned from 2028 to 2030. It also wants to find ways to close gaps in the network instead of upgrading existing segments.

“Project costs for the AAA Bicycle Network have escalated by approximately $60 million from the original estimate of $25,000,000,” the motion reads. “Despite this, lower-cost non-AAA alternatives, potentially offering savings of $790 to $4,190 per meter, were not fully evaluated as part of previous cost-saving analysis for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 years of the project.”

According to Halifax’s website, the proposed AAA network would span 57 kilometres. The goal was to have the network completed in 2028 and by winter 2024, progress was made on roughly 50 per cent of the proposal.

Cleary, who voted against the motion, said the municipality will spend more on repaving roads this year than it will on bike lanes in the next five years.

“Paint is not infrastructure,” he said. “The reason we adopted AAA is because it’s safe. It separates people from traffic.

“If you don’t want to do it, you’re essentially saying you’re fine with people getting killed.”

Fillmore said the report is about “making informed decisions.”

HOV lanes

In a separate transit matter on Tuesday, council voted 12-to-three in favour of a motion seeking a staff report on how to implement a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes pilot project in Halifax. Councillors White, Morse and Virginia Hinch voted against the motion.

Fillmore also brought forward this motion, which is looking to launch the pilot project in current bus-only lanes.

“We’re facing unprecedented congestion right now,” Fillmore said. “Launching a pilot project that transforms select bus lanes to high occupancy lanes. I believe it to be a practical solution.”

Last month, mapmaking company TomTom ranked Halifax as the third worst Canadian city for traffic congestion and average travel time.

Earlier this month, the Nova Scotia government indicated it was considering implementing HOV lanes in Halifax.

The staff report on the pilot project will be due by June.

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