Halifax group holds rally to oppose $200M Robie Street transit project

A group is opposing a plan to tear out mature trees to build a bus lane in Halifax.

A group in Halifax is hosting an action on Thursday to raise awareness around the city’s plan to cut down trees and demolish buildings to add a bus lane on Robie Street.

The project is part of Halifax Regional Municipality’s (HRM) Integrated Mobility Plan and Rapid Transit Strategy. The city’s proposed plan involves cutting down around 80 trees and demolishing 12-14 buildings between North and Cunard streets to add the second bus lane.

The Friends of Halifax Common (FHC) group say residents in the area strongly oppose the plan.

“Halifax has taken the most expensive, destructive and outdated approach to transit priority by seeking to ADD road space,” Peggy Cameron, FHC chair and area resident says.

Cameron says HRM should look at other approved plans in the city for solutions.

“Instead HRM must choose less expensive solutions such as signalized lane changes like it has recently planned for Herring Cove near the Armdale Rotary,” Cameron adds.

Howard Epstein, a former city councillor, MLA and Dalhousie University Law professor says the city has an obligation to consider alternative approaches.

“As fiscal, environmental and socio-economic stewards, it is Halifax’s obligation to seriously adopt cheaper, effective options FIRST,” Epstein says. “The short section between North and Cunard is an ideal candidate for a pilot using signalized lane changes.”

The FHC group says the widening of Robie Street would affect 90 properties and the projects budget has continually risen, now costing the city $200 million. Of the 90 affected properties, 50-70 are affordable units.

“There’s a First Nations homes, there’s housing co-ops, there’s youth shelters and everyone is impacted. It’s one of the last affordable neighborhoods in the city,” Cameron said. “Also a matter of the trees. Some of these trees are 150 to 175 years old and they won’t be replaced.”

The group says residents will meet Thursday between noon and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. to post signs and distribute flyers in the Robie Street area.

CTV Atlantic reached out to HRM for comment but they declined an interview.

The FHC are asking residents to sign a petition opposing councils plan and to write a letter to their local councillors.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Vanessa Wright

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