Halifax’s traffic congestion is a drag on the local economy, with residents wasting countless hours commuting. Unfortunately, the idea of a commuter rail line to augment the city buses is not financially viable. Plus, none of the most important downtown destinations lies on an existing track.
A better solution is a Bus Rapid Transit system, which works well for cities the size of Halifax. By dedicating a bus lane in the centre of important streets, buses carrying 60 people would be unencumbered by traffic. Raised platforms and off-board ticketing instruments would further improve efficiency. Most importantly, a BRT network is affordable.
To make commuting less maddening, without breaking the bank, Halifax should consider a Bus Rapid Transit system.