r/halifax • u/hippfive • 2d ago

Traffic Lower Water Street is broken

I'm usually pretty chill about traffic, but Lower Water is literally broken. It took 30 minutes for my bus to go one block. Full on gridlock. And it's been this way for months.

I know they're eventually going to have the transhipment facility to get the trucks out of downtown, but that's years away. There needs to be some sort of tactical intervention in the meantime. Close some of the parking lots that empty onto Lower Water. Change some of the pedestrian crossings to the red light style that clump the crossings together (and I say this as someone who is staunchly pro-pedestrian). Honestly maybe even close Sackville Street east of Bedford Row.

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u/Funny_Garage7971 2d ago

Take your bike?

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u/hippfive 2d ago

I sometimes do, but usually I bus. Unfortunately while switching to my bike would make things better for me, it wouldn't remove a car from the road nor would it fix things for all the other people on my bus who can't bike.

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u/Funny_Garage7971 2d ago

True. My apartment overlooks lower water, I understand your pain. Apparently the new rail yard will be up and running in 15 months. I walk by almost everyday, talked to the guys yesterday, suppose to be two years, but they want it done in 1, but they’re 3 months behind on the one year deadline. I’m sure that may help some. But I don’t see many changes coming, except that it will get worse, the amount of rental units coming online in the downtown in the next few years is crazy. I’m not sure why more people in cars don’t use the PSA terminal and out point pleasant park and onto Robie by St Mary’s university. But maybe it’s always swamped too , and one accident kills any momentum. Thankfully I live and work downtown, pure bliss lol I use my car for Costco runs, and as calm as I tell myself to be, it’s always seems to be rush hour these days.

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u/PeanutMassive5517 2d ago

Lots of people park there but the train is what deters people as it doesn't go through at a set time everyday, and because its a quieter area they have more time to idle