Halifax Urban Greenway Association Initiatives

Council awards tender for Halifax Urban Greenway to Ocean Contractors Limited - Tuesday, September 22, 2009

At its September 22nd meeting, HRM Council awarded a tender to Ocean Contractors Limited to construct Phase One of the Halifax Urban Greenway. The multi-use trail will run along the sidewalk allowance on Beaufort Avenue, from South Street south to Marlborough Woods.

Weather and other factors permitting, construction should be completed before winter. However, there will be two temporary measures in place. First, the stretch between Regina Terrace and Inglis Street is eventually intended to veer away from the sidewalk allowance to avoid a grove of large, mature trees. Since the CN land accommodating that routing has not yet been acquired, for the time being a narrow connector path, possibly of crusher dust, will be laid out along the sidewalk allowance. Second, the process of moving the power poles between South Street and Oakland Road is going to be a lengthy one. In the meantime, the poles will stay in place and the trail, either in asphalt or in crusher dust, will narrow to get by each of them.

The municipal arborist will be closely supervising the contractor throughout regarding which trees are to be removed and which are to be retained. The biggest challenge in saving trees will be on the steep slope leading down to the Nova Scotia Power transformer station near Regina Terrace. Every effort will be made to carefully backfill around some larger trees halfway down the slope.

The amount of the tender is $ 636,231.08. Two-thirds of this cost has been provided by the Canada - Nova Scotia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund.

Halifax Urban Greenway Association Initiatives

Tender Call for Phase 1 - Saturday, August 8, 2009

Chronicle-Herald, Saturday, August 8, 2009, p. F10: Tender No. 09-169

Description: Halifax Urban Greenway (HUGA) Trail - Phase 1 Beaufort Avenue

Closing Date: 2 p.m. local time, September 1, 2009

Vision for Linear Park, Managed Ecosystem – May 5th Public Meeting

HRM staff has laid out a vision of a “fully-developed linear park” along Beaufort Avenue , with a “restored, healthy ecosystem”. Land acquisition for the entire Greenway route will cost millions of dollars. An active transportation route is required to justify the expenditure and create the impetus to buy the land from CN.

About 70 people attended the public meeting on the design of the Beaufort Avenue section of the Halifax Urban Greenway at City Hall on Monday night, May 5th. Staff reviewed in detail the measures that will be taken to manage the existing trees along the stretch, but also alluded to what the future vegetation will look like. Staff also spelled out how it will respond to the neighbourhood petition against an active transportation route in a report to Council.

Trees

Municipal arborist John Simmons described why the Norway maples along Beaufort make for an unsustainable ecosystem along the street, and one which must be managed to move it in a different direction. Norway maples are prone to structural failure through splitting in the trunk at the 35-40 year period. They shade out other trees and vegetation, and send out toxins which prevent other trees from taking root and growing. Many other municipalities have also declared the Norway a pest. HRM will be managing them out in Point Pleasant Park and elsewhere.

The Beaufort trees are not a natural stand, and have been compromised by culture over time, he said. If we leave Beaufort as it is, there will be larger impacts over time and the tree stands will not be sustainable. To improve the situation, he envisions bringing more conifers – now only about 2 percent of the trees - into the ecosystem. He sees the stand becoming 60-65 percent native species conifer in the section closer to the edge of the rail cut. With more than that, there would be the perceived security issue of too many conifers. Nearer the sidewalk allowance and multi-use trail, there would be other deciduous naturalized native species.

The largest intervention in trail design due to trees is the diversion away from the sidewalk allowance near Regina Terrace, in order to save a copse of mature trees. The tree canopy in that section will have to be “lifted” to allow visual access from the street. To compensate, there will be additional planting in areas that are now open close to the edge of the cut, including evergreens on the cut edge to further screen the trail from the Belmont-on-the- Arm properties on the west side of the cut. Replanting for at least this area is in the trail construction budget.

Asphalt

Asphalt surfacing was one of the concerns in the petition. Why asphalt ?

It will make the multi-use trail available to all people, all the time. HRM has been snowplowing the Dartmouth ( Lake Banook and Waterfront) trails on a regular basis and will also do so for the Greenway. A gravel or crusher dust trail cannot be maintained through the winter. The BLT trail group advised the meeting that they cannot maintain the crusher dust on their trail, and that its use is not advisable for a heavily-traveled trail like theirs. Those in Clayton Park are asking for their main crusher dust walkway to be paved. A Westmount Subdivision resident said that asphalt has worked very well for their trail system.

Point Pleasant Park has 40 tons of crusher dust added to its roads and pathways every year. It spreads to the sides with usage, migrating into the ecosystem and doing damage to trees. You have to go in every year to rake it back. Crusher dust still requires salt for any winter usage to be possible.

Peter Rogers of the Halifax Cycling Coalition said that paving is superior for cycling, especially in his case with a trailer carrying his young son behind his bicycle – so that small pieces of gravel are not thrown up in his face. The Greenway will thus be ideal for families who want to go downtown.

Circuitous Routing

The apparently circuitous routing of the Greenway, not heading directly to downtown employment destinations, was criticized in the petition. It argued that this invalidates the justification for a multi-use trail.

Peter Bigelow, an inveterate cyclist, pointed out that cyclists take circuitous routes to avoid hills. This route is about 2 km. longer overall from South and Beaufort to the Ferry Terminal than direct city streets, such as up and down the hill on South Street . However, his time tests contrasted the 13 minutes it took via the approximate Greenway route with the 18 minutes it took through city streets and traffic.

One person in the back said the Greenway route will also be safer, and allow the bicyclists to avoid being hit by cars. Peter Rogers emphasized recreational cycling use for the route, saying that he will not use it to commute downtown. Ken Reashor of Active Transportation agreed that “sophisticated bicyclists” will use streets.

It should be noted that, while views on using the Beaufort Avenue section as a commuting route to downtown were mixed, the more direct routes along the Greenway will be the future sections north of South Street . Bicyclists may have a different view on a route from Chebucto Road to South Street .

Cost

The cost of trail construction to the taxpayer was another objection raised in the petition. Peter Bigelow, Manager of Real Property for HRM, pointed out that this is what it costs to retrofit a city. It costs a lot of money not to provide for this type of infrastructure in a modern city. A kilometer of the Dartmouth Waterfront trail cost close to $1 million; a bridge costs $400K. Beaufort Avenue , at about $530K for a kilometer of trail, is one of the areas with a higher cost – due to the need for a number of retaining structures.

Municipal funding for the Greenway of $280K to date has been leveraged with $600K from the federal and provincial governments.

The asphalt for the Beaufort Avenue section of the multi-use trail is costed at $137K, versus $70K for gravel. However, there is a minimum 10-year, likely 15-year, life for asphalt without further input – where there are no motor vehicles traversing the surface.

Other Issues

The two-hour meeting also raised a number of other issues:

• the nature footpath paralleling the multi-use trail can be used by runners who want a softer surface, and for cross-country skiing in the winter
• staff has done a preliminary routing for the Roxton Road to Saint Mary’s section to avoid the major tree canopy
• CN may be selling properties to hurry up an HRM purchase decision
• The developer on Harbourview Drive has cut down all the trees on their rail cut property, and the neighbourhood has accepted rezoning for houses now that the trees have all gone
• Salting for ice clearance can be managed to minimize impact, when combined with proper drainage design for the trail surface
• Continuity of the entire Greenway is a pre-requisite for purchase from CN and approval by Council
• HRM has put in an offer on the Chester Spur Line, which will connect with the Greenway at its northern end
• Trail construction can start before acquisition, because the property is a part of a bigger package, and CN will give an agreement that it won’t sell
• The design standards for a trail on Francklyn Street should not determined by what happens on Beaufort Avenue , residents argued
• A trail on Francklyn will go past residents’ front and rear yards, making it a completely different situation from that on Beaufort
• Residents want and need to be brought in at an early stage, not at a final, “blueprint” stage; should not be presented with a design and told “this is the way it is”
• To gain community support, need to come forward with alternatives
• Staff said that while the community has been well-served by HUGA, there have been lessons learned and staff, councilors and HUGA hope to move on those

Anyone wanting to make a submission to be considered by staff for inclusion in their report to Council on the petition can forward it through Sue Uteck ( utecks@halifax. ca ).

Another Public Meeting on the Greenway

Monday, May 5th, 7 p.m., Halifax Hall, City Hall

Are you tired of negativism and fear-mongering ? Are you concerned about the growing effects of climate change, ever-increasing traffic, the obesity epidemic, but don't think there's anything you can do about them ? Do you want to be part of bringing about a positive future for our community ? Then please read on...

The Halifax Urban Greenway is part of a grand but realistic vision of an active transportation system with hundreds of kilometres of hiking and biking trails. You can see the two hundred kilometres of trails already completed and that overall vision on maps at:

http://www.halifaxurbangreenway.org/maps/regional_trails.pdf

The Greenway will stretch some 4 kilometres from the Armdale Roundabout to Point Pleasant Park and Young Avenue. It will link up 8 municipal parks and public water access points on the Northwest Arm (see http://www.halifaxurbangreenway.org/maps/huga_and_wateraccess.html). The first phase on Beaufort Avenue will preserve most of a natural area that has been and continues to be threatened with development. It opens up that area to passive recreation by providing a nature footpath parallel to the main trail.

The next section will go through to Saint Mary's University and across to Pine Hill Drive via a new pedestrian bridge. For the first time since the rail cut was excavated over 90 years ago, there will be direct access to Point Pleasant Park for the Northwest Arm and West End neighbourhoods and beyond. Climbing up and down makeshift and sometimes dangerous paths through private property will no longer be necessary.

The Greenway will eventually connect in the north to the trail already going to Hubbards and then through Chester and Lunenburg. In the south it will join to a new trail already negotiated with the Port of Halifax through to the MacDonald Bridge, Dartmouth and the Eastern Shore trail.

Anyone who wants to lessen their dependence on the automobile and increase their level of daily physical activity will have a high-quality and safe facility, separated from streets, roads and highways, which will be maintained year-round - just like the trail along Lake Banook in Dartmouth.

This a real project, with complete funding approved - not just yet another plan. It will be the first step towards a better downtown Halifax. It will start bringing us in line with other cities that have had such trails for years now. If you believe that Halifax's future will be a better one with the Greenway, please come out in support at this public meeting:

CN Land Sales Threaten Beaufort Green Space - April 12, 2008

HRM real property manager Peter Bigelow revealed during Saturday's trail walk that CN rail has recently sold three parcels of land abutting the rail cut. At least two of these were to the developer of the subdivision at the south end of Beaufort Avenue. Apparently, there is a new properties manager in place at CN, with a different approach to residential developments along the sides of the rail cut.

The walk was well attended by about 35 residents, HRM councillors Sue Uteck and Sheila Fougere, Halifax Citadel MLA Leonard Preyra and six HRM staff. After an initial discussion on the trail planning process, the group got down to a very thorough and detailed assessment of the trail routing. Peter headed the presentation and talked about property acquisition, assisted by Don Ambler, Trails staff, and Kevin Conley, the project manager from Parks Planning, addressing trail design; Ken Reashor and Roxane MacInnis from Transportation to describe the streets, traffic, and active transportation aspects; and John Simmons, municipal arborist, to talk about the trail's impact on trees.

That residents found the presentations very useful was shown by the fact that most of the group followed the walk all the way through to South Street, spending a full two hours in Saturday morning's drizzle and cold. Residents requested a two-week period to prepare and present their proposal for modifications to the trail design.

CN's new approach to property underlines the need to proceed with the trail and prevent Beaufort Avenue's green space from being lost as a public resource and becoming private residential development.

HUGA has found the recent neighborhood interest and involvement in the trail design to be a positive force overall. As a result of the neighborhood reaction to the original 4 metre width, we were able to successfully propose a reduction to 3.5 metres, plus the addition of a new row of street trees. Before the period of neighborhood involvement, HUGA's plea for a reduction in width was in vain. We look forward to timely and constructive proposals coming from the neighborhood to further improve the trail design.

Questions at February 25th Neighbourhood Meeting

It is of interest to note some of the questions that arose at the informal neighbourhood meeting held on February 25th at City Hall. These answers come out of HUGA’s understanding; staff may wish to clarify, correct or further elaborate upon the following answers.

Won’t the pavement on the trail be all beaten up and have grass sprouting up through it in a number of years ?

Pavement not subjected to heavy car, truck and bus traffic and not plowed by heavy equipment stands up very well, and this should not be the case.

What is the use of a bicycle commuting trail that is so indirect, skirting the city rather than going right to its heart ?

Many cities have this situation, because all the most direct routes have long since been co-opted for motorized vehicular traffic. These non-direct routes in other cities are heavily used.

Where are all the people that are purported to be there ready to use this trail going to come from ?

The west end of the city of Halifax is quite densely populated, and many from there will use it for commuting.

Why didn’t we start construction at the Rotary instead of this far into the South End ?

The section coming south from the Armdale Rotary presents the biggest engineering challenge and the most expense, especially the Quinpool Road crossing. It would be largely to the rear of existing properties and thus invisible to the public and potential users. Thus, it would not encourage the public support for further construction of the other sections that the Beaufort Avenue construction will. Finally, the Beaufort Avenue section has been under direct threat from residential development, and its securing through both acquisition and trail construction is necessary right now.

Why is an expensive new pedestrian bridge across the cut back of the Oaks at Saint Mary’s University needed ? Why couldn’t the trail just follow the west side of the railway cut between Marlborough Woods and Francklyn Street ?

That section of the cut is a narrow footpath surrounded with beautiful natural landscapes and in the spring perhaps the most prominent patch of lady slipper wildflowers to be found anywhere in Halifax and vicinity. HUGA could not support its destruction through major bulldozing, and has secured its inclusion as a nature footpath. This footpath will provide the return part of a "loop” route of nature footpaths, going down one side of the railway cut and returning along the other.

The west side route would have been costly in any event. One major objective for the multi-use trail is to connect Dalhousie and Saint Mary's universities. The east side route satisfies this objective and continues across the new bridge to Point Pleasant Park and the future waterfront trail. The alternative would have been two costly multi-use trails on both sides of the cut. See "Why a Bridge ? : The Evolution of the Greenway Concept" at:

http://www.halifaxu rbangreenway. org/reports/ why_a_bridge. pdf.

How can I get a detailed topographical map of the project ?

The engineering drawings for Beaufort Avenue are on the HUGA website at:

http://www.halifaxu rbangreenway. org/maps. html

Enlarging the PDF files with Adobe Reader in a web browser will show the detailed contour lines on the plans.

Why are we spending all this money on a trail which is isolated from the rest of the municipality ?

The Greenway will extend to Chebucto Road in the north, and connect with the BLT Trail starting in Lakeside. HRM is currently looking at acquiring the abandoned railway right-of-way between Lakeside and Dutch Village Road, which would provide the connection. In the south, it will extend to the Port of Halifax next to Point Pleasant Park. The Port has agreed to the principle of public trail access through to Water Street and Waterfront Development Corporation property.

What is going to happen to the beautiful natural area of woodland between Roxton Road - Marlborough Woods and the rear of the Oaks property at Saint Mary's University ?

HUGA met with SMU several times in the early stages of developing our Concept Plan, and HRM has been negotiating with them since. Saint Mary's has incorporated the multi-purpose trail into their Campus Master Plan ("Support the Urban Greenway project with connections to the Atlantic School of Theology, Robie Street and Gorsebrook Avenue." See http://www.smu. ca/masterplan/ oaks.html). HRM acknowledges the need to do whatever can reasonably be done to preserve the Maplewood Estate stone wall remnants within the site.

Is HRM going to buy the railway lands from CN ?

This is the intent. Negotiations have been long underway and are ongoing. Completion of purchase is not a pre-condition for issuing tender calls for construction; only a liability waiver is required in the short term.

Why doesn't HRM just zone the CN lands, so that it doesn't have to spend a great deal of public money on them ?

Zoning can always be changed by Council after a public hearing; it is thus not a bullet-proof means of protecting the lands. Only outright purchase will do this.

What is happening to the Harbourview Drive section of the Greenway route ?

HUGA met with Provident Realty leading up to the preparation of the Concept Plan (http://www.halifaxu rbangreenway. org/reports/ proposal. html). At that time, we secured a verbal agreement that a trail could be constructed in front of the five planned residential properties. The Concept Plan illustrates that situation. Since then, the Community Council refusal to consider the zoning made the informal agreement moot. HRM currently says that provision for a multi-purpose trail along the municipal sidewalk allowance in front of the property from Tower Road east will have to be part of any planning approval for the Provident site.

What design is planned for Francklyn Street ?

Since the 2005 first design plan public meeting at the SMU Art Gallery, HRM and HUGA have met with Francklyn area residents four times. At the final neighbourhood meeting at Saint Mary's in late 2006, an illustration of a street narrowed by two metres to accommodate a 4-metre trail and a row of new street trees was presented.

Report on February 25th Beaufort - Ritchie Neighbourhood Meeting

The Meeting

A meeting of Beaufort Avenue – Ritchie Drive residents with concerns about the final design plans for the Beaufort Avenue section of the Halifax Urban Greenway was held at City Hall at 7 p.m. Monday, February 25th. About 25 to 30 residents were in attendance, and the meeting wound up just after 9:30 p.m.

A revised design was presented, which resulted from a proposal to staff from HUGA in response to resident comments. The revision narrows the multi-purpose trail between Oakland Road and Marlborough Woods from 4 metres width to 3.5 metres. The trail narrows even further to 3 metres in some short sections to go around and preserve some larger trees. Wherever possible, the grass verge, or “tree lawn”, between the curb and the trail is widened to 1 metre and in some places 5 feet in order to allow for the planting of a new row of street trees.

The 100 feet or so in front of the power substation is one short section where there is no room for the planting of street trees. The South Street to Oakland Road section and those sections between Oakland Road and Belmont on the Arm which veer away from the sidewalk allowance will remain at 4 metres width.

The following design principles were restated and reinforced by staff, councilors and HUGA:

1. Asphalt surfacing is needed for a year-round trail. Crusher dust surfacing cannot be maintained in winter. It is therefore unacceptable, because it is likely to result in an icy and dangerous route throughout many of the winter months. This is an issue not only with walkers but also with bicycles and wheelchairs.
2. 3.5 metres is the minimum width required for a multi-use trail which is to accommodate all types of users with even a moderate level of usage. Council has adopted this standard as part of the Active Transportation Plan. The 3.5 metres is needed for two bicycles traveling in opposite directions to pass each other unimpeded. It was restated that the Greenway is expected to have a good number of users when completed. It will attract bicycle commuters, who are prepared to spend an extra 10 minutes or so on their commute in order to have a safe and pleasant route into the city center.

Meeting Follow-Up

A promised follow-up to the meeting will be a walkabout along the Beaufort Avenue sidewalk allowance in order to get a detailed idea of how much tree loss there will be as a result of the construction of the multi-use trail.

Residents claimed that they have had inadequate notice of progress on trail design and on the various public meetings that have been held. While HUGA maintains that there has indeed been adequate notice by such means as newspaper advertisements, flyers and email, we do recognize that there needs to be improvement in this area as the project moves forward.

HUGA therefore seeks constructive proposals on how community and neighbourhood information provision and consultation can be improved, given the available staff resources and our own limited volunteer resources.

Looking Ahead to the Next Section of the Greenway - Dec. 7/07

No tenders have been called yet for the Beaufort Avenue section of the Halifax Urban Greenway, but it is still not too early to start thinking about the next section through to the Oaks at Saint Mary's University and across the pedestrian bridge to Pine Hill Drive. Here are three sources of ideas for what it might look like:

1. Saint Mary's University Campus Master Plan - The South Campus and The Oaks - shows the Greenway in the lower corner of the map
2. Why a Bridge - The Evolution of the Greenway Concept
3. The design drawing for the pedestrian bridge over the railway cut
4. Student thesis design study for Marlborough Woods to the Oaks

Some Features of the Final Design Plans for Beaufort Avenue - Dec. 7/07

The multi-purpose trail is to be paved with black asphalt. This is to accommodate all the modes of non-motorized transport (plus motorized wheelchairs). Skateboarders, in-line skaters, wheelchairs and probably baby carriages and strollers all need a smooth surface, which crusher dust will not supply. In addition, the trail is to become part of a 24/7, year-round commuter route for bicyclists and others. Therefore, it needs to be regularly plowed in the winter, and crusher dust will not stand up to that.

The multi-purpose trail will be 4 metres (about 13 feet) in width. This is to accommodate the anticipated number of users and range of modes of transportation. This width is within the range recommended by the 2006 HRM Active Transportation Plan.

There is to be a parallel nature footpath wherever possible. This will be narrow - less than a metre in width - and have no surfacing except where necessary to cover up obstacles. There will be frequent connecting side paths between the nature footpath and the multi-purpose trail.

Between Regina Terrace and Inglis Street, the multi-purpose trail veers away from the sidewalk allowance towards the edge of the railway cut, in order to preserve a grove of large, mature trees near the curb. As a result, this section only will be be lit with minimal light pollution lighting standards. The rest of the Beaufort Avenue multi-purpose trail will rely on existing street lighting after dark.

There are benches and trash receptacles in several locations, plus trail signage throughout.

Final Design Plans for Beaufort Avenue Section Presented at Open House

On Thursday, November 29th, afternoon (1-4 p.m.) and evening (6-8 p.m.) sessions of an Open House were held to present the final design plans for the Beaufort Avenue section of the Halifax Urban Greenway, from South Street to Roxton Road - Marlborough Woods (see the Maps page of this website for those plans). Just under 30 people attended.

Comments were generally, but not all, positive in nature. Some were very favourable to the inclusion of the parallel nature footpath for those who want to avoid the greater traffic and higher speeds on the multi-purpose trail. However, several expressed concerns about the surfacing and width of the multi-purpose trail, the potential nuisance factors which could result from the trail's bringing new people into the neighbourhood, the intention of accomodating skateboards and in-line skaters on the multi-purpose trail, and the feeling that there had not been enough consultation with residents throughout the planning process.

A meeting will be organized to review those comments with the residents who made them, expected in the week of December 10th to 14th.

Funding Announced for Halifax Urban Greenway

On Monday, April 2, 2007, at a press conference hosted by Mayor Peter Kelly at the Fairbanks Interpretation Centre in Dartmouth , Federal Minister Peter MacKay and Provincial Minister Jamie Muir announced funding for several trails and community centres. These included $300,000 from the federal government and another $300,000 from the provincial government for the first phase of the Halifax Urban Greenway. HRM is matching the funding with an additional $280,000.

This means that we will see the Beaufort Avenue section of the Greenway constructed this year. Before a tender call goes out, however, the following must first occur:

1. HRM Transportation will finalize plans for the narrowing of Beaufort Avenue between South Street and Oakland Road
2. HRM and the trail design and engineering consultant will draw up new detailed plans for the multi-purpose trail from South Street to Marlborough Woods
3. a public meeting will be called, at which the plans will be presented and comments invited

HUGA would urge all those interested in the trail or concerned about its neighbourhood impact to keep an eye out for the announcement of the upcoming public meeting. Together with HRM, we want the new trail to be both beneficial to the larger community and fully acceptable to the neighbourhood it runs through. The public meeting is the opportunity to bring out any concerns you might have before the trail design is cast in stone.

Revised Greenway Plans Revealed at Neighbourhood Meeting

On the evening of February 21st, 2007, about 20 residents of the Francklyn Street , Pine Hill Drive and Harbourview Drive neighbourhoods attended a meeting in the Sobey's Building of Saint Mary 's University. The purpose was to reveal HRM's revised plans for the Halifax Urban Greenway, concentrating on their areas, where there had been concerns about the original 2005 plans. The meeting was a prelude to a general public meeting, to be held in the near future.

Perhaps the most significant change outlined by parks, trails and active transportation staff was the "trail around the peninsula" concept. The Greenway will link up to the Halifax Harbour waterfront by following Point Pleasant Drive along the northern boundary of Point Pleasant Park, from Francklyn Street up the hill to the Park entrance and down the hill to the Port of Halifax, and then through the Port. This means that Francklyn Street is now the main Greenway route, rather than Pine Hill Drive - Harbourview Drive .

Pine Hill-Harbourview becomes a secondary routing. The Active Transportation Plan designates Young Avenue-South Park Street as the main on-street bike route for the southern part of the peninsula. The new purpose of a Pine Hill-Harbourview branch of the Greenway would be to connect to this "spine" and the Spring Garden-Downtown destination areas.

To accommodate a four-metre trail width within the sidewalk allowance on these streets, and to make the trail more acceptable to the neighbourhoods, major changes to the streets are proposed. For Francklyn Street from the foot of Pine Hill Drive to the foot of Point Pleasant Drive and for Harbourview Drive , the asphalt travel-way would be narrowed by one-and-a-half metres or five feet. New street trees would be planted in a five-foot wide lawn area between the trail and the curb.

While the meeting was not primarily about Beaufort Avenue , staff also showed street-level drawings of what is being proposed for that section of the Greenway. This includes street narrowing and new street trees for the South Street to Oakland Road section, in order to allow for the full desired width of four metres. From Oakland Road to Marlborough Woods, the trail will either be narrowed to 3.5 metres along an entire stretch, narrow for a short distance, or veer away from the street to avoid significant trees.

At HUGA's request, staff has marked trees which will have to be removed between Belmont on the Arm and Marlborough Woods - the section of most concern regarding tree loss. Since there are only about nine trees or parts of tree trunk clusters threatened - none of them of particular significance - HUGA is satisfied that everything has been done to preserve vegetation, and supports in principle the revised plans.

Progress Report on Halifax Urban Greenway Design,January 25, 2006

Greenway Stalled in Traffic

The final plans for Phase One of the Halifax Urban Greenway are still awaiting municipal approval. HUGA is told that the Traffic Department is currently withholding approval of the signage and traffic component of the trail design. Until this hurdle is overcome, there can be no public release of the trail plans and no public open house to review and comment on those plans.

For its part, HUGA has made its own submission to the Traffic Department on its concerns about how the trail will relate to the surrounding streets. After two rounds of submissions and responses, HUGA holds the following position:

1. There is little enough and slow enough traffic at Francklyn Street and Point Pleasant Drive, where the multi-purpose trail crosses over to the Park entrance, that a painted crosswalk is not required at this time.
2. Beaufort Avenue has low volume but often high-speed traffic, meriting warning signs at the end of connecting street on its eastern side (Dalhousie, Oakland, Regina, Inglis, Ritchie) to caution those wishing to cross over to the trail on the western side of the street that they should cross at the existing crosswalks at South Street and Marlborough Woods.
3. If there is no painted crosswalk across Tower Road at Pine Hill Drive, where the multi-purpose trail crosses over to Harbourview Drive, HUGA does not support the continuation of the trail past Tower Road.
4. A stop sign is needed at the eastern end of the Marlborough Woods bridge, to stop traffic proceeding east across the bridge, to match the stop signs on the other bridges crossing the trail and to protect trail users proceeding south towards Point Pleasant Park.

In terms of construction costs, Council has approved an application to the federal-provincial infrastructure program in the amount of $880,000 for the Greenway. This would be added to the $53,000 in funding already approved for HUGA. Processing of the application has likely been awaiting the completion of the federal election.

If this amount is made available this year, it may be enough to construct the multi-purpose trail and footpaths from South Street to the Oaks at Saint Mary’s University, as well as the pedestrian and cycling bridge over the railway cut to Pine Hill Drive. If not, construction would go to the Marlborough Woods bridge this year.

Progress Report on Halifax Urban Greenway Design, November 17, 2005

Subject: HRM Says No Crosswalks; HUGA Postpones Open House

The final plans for most components of the Halifax Urban Greenway were approved by HUGA on November 17th. Nevertheless, several important parts of the trail system have yet to be finalized.

First, the locations of the nature footpaths and of the fencing along the edge of the cut will be finalized in the field at the time of construction.

Second, the final alignment of the multi-purpose trail from Marlborough Woods through to the back of the “The Oaks” at Saint Mary’s University has not been set. This requires additional surveying work to precisely locate property boundaries, topographic obstructions and a heritage stone wall.

Third, the safety of HUGA’s trail users has to be ensured. HUGA has pointed out the potential dangers of pedestrians, runners, bicyclists, wheelchairs, in-line skaters and baby carriages – all the groups of trail users – crossing Beaufort Avenue to get to the trail. The street may not always have a high traffic volume, but the traffic is often fast. In addition, users will have to cross Tower Road at Pine Hill Drive and Francklyn Street at Point Pleasant Drive as they proceed along the trail. These are two “T” intersections with stop signs only on the intersecting side street.

HRM Traffic has responded to HUGA’s concerns with the position that there are no additional crosswalks required in any of these locations. HUGA has thus requested and received a postponement of the Public Open House, originally scheduled for November 17th. HUGA was not able to openly support the trail as an active partner with HRM at a public session with the safety concerns outstanding.

HUGA has asked HRM Traffic to take another look at the intersections we identify – the two above, plus Oakland-Dalhousie at Beaufort and Inglis at Beaufort. We are now awaiting their response.

We have not yet requested a rescheduling of the Public Open House, nor have we formulated our position in the event of an ongoing refusal to deal with our safety concerns.

September 16, 2005 Progress Report

After a slowdown early in the summer, planning for the Halifax Urban Greenway is back on track for completion in the early fall. A second and final public open house should be held in the near future.

Design work was put on hold temporarily while the status of the Francklyn Street section of the Greenway was discussed. HRM followed up the first public open house with a mailout to all households in the Francklyn Street neighbourhood and a public meeting of the group at Halifax Hall. HUGA met with the residents on two subsequent occasions.

HUGA and the residents jointly proposed a narrower, gravel-surfaced trail along the street - at least until the plan for Point Pleasant Park and its approach streets was completed. HRM has not accepted this proposal, but has reduced the width of the multi-purpose trail from a nine feet to a six feet width of asphalt, with bicycles being accommodated on the low-traffic street. HUGA also requested that a less visible coloured asphalt surfacing be considered, but this has proven to be too expensive.

In August, HUGA worked with HRM staff and the consultant on the routing of the nature footpaths. We walked every inch of the footpath which will parallel the multi-purpose trail along Beaufort Avenue and through the Saint Mary's University area to the footbridge across to Pine Hill Drive.

We agreed on a number of design principles for the footpaths. First, they should have the absolute minimum width necessary for single-file walking. Second, they should be continuous expect where there is only sufficient width for the multi-purpose trail. The single place where this is the case is at the south end of Greenwood Avenue - a new section of footpath will be added just south of the Marlborough Woods bridge to make up for the loss of this section to the multi-purpose trail.

Just south of Regina Terrace, the multi-purpose trail will veer away from the sidewalk to avoid a number of mature trees. There is only room for the multi-purpose trail closer to the edge of the railway cut. Therefore, the footpath in this section will cross over the multi-purpose trail at two points and follow the current route along the sidewalk.

There is currently no continuous footpath between the Marlborough Woods and Belmont on the Arm bridges, because there is a dip in the topography half-filled with rubble. This will be leveled to make for continuity.

A third principle is that the footpath should be a sufficient distance away from the multi-purpose trail so that it feels distinct from it. This will require in the Saint Mary's property that either the multi-purpose trail will have to move back from the property line or the current footpath will have to be relocated closer to the edge of the cut.

Fourth, the fencing that will have to be erected along the entire length of the Greenway should be as close to the edge of the railway cut as possible. Finally, there needs to be a number of exits from the footpath spaced at intervals between the ends of the lengthy sections between the railway bridges. This is to provide both for flexible access to and a greater feeling of security on the footpaths.

HUGA has a general understanding on the likely phasing of the Greenway's construction. Beaufort Avenue would be done first, then the pedestrian bridge, and finally the Pine Hill Drive - Harbourview Drive and Francklyn Street sections. Budget allowing, each phase would be built in each of the next three years.

No budget is yet committed, so no announcements can be made at this time. However, the Greenway is next in line for funding among the so-called "active transportation" routes through the urban core of HRM.

Keep an eye out for the date of the public open house and the presentation of the final design.

Progress Report on Halifax Urban Greenway Design, June 22, 2005

The planning and design process for the Greenway has mostly been on hold for the last few weeks. HUGA and HRM staff have met with Francklyn Street neighbourhood residents on three occasions - June 1 at Halifax Hall, June 7 at Queen Street Sobey's and June 21 on Francklyn Street - to address neighbourhod concerns with the proposed design of the multi-purpose trail along Francklyn Street. The consultant and HUGA await an HRM decision on how to proceed with the street.

Some preparatory work necessary for eventual trail construction has been proceeding. The sidewalk alongside Point Pleasant Park on Francklyn Street has been widened by two feet and catch basins moved to accommodate the nine-foot asphalt multi-purpose trail proposed there. Curbing is soon to be added the length of Pine Hill Drive, below the section already completed, to accommodate the future multi-purpose trail leading from the pedestrian bridge along that street.

The partnership with Saint Mary's University has been formalized. The alignment of the multi-purpose trial is to be shown following the outer boundary of Saint Mary's property - at least until such time as the campus planning process soon to be underway decides whether this is the best location from the university's viewpoint.

The consultant has had a survey team in the Marlborough Woods to Saint Mary's section to lay out property boundaries. Geotechnical analysis for the foundations of the pedestrian bridge is also underway.

Design work will be ongoing through the summer. The public open house to present the final design is expected for the first half of September.

Progress in 2005

The HRM Procurement Office has advertised on its website a Request for Proposal for Consulting Services for Phase I of the Halifax Urban Greenway (January 8, RFP 05-005). The closing date for submissions to carry out the detailed planning and design of the multi-purpose trail and the nature footpaths between South Street and Young Avenue and Point Pleasant Park was January 24th, 2005. O'Halloran-Campbell Engineering and Gordon Ratcliffe Landscape Architects was the successful bidder and now is underway with the design process.

Saint Mary's University has agreed to work with the consultant from the beginning as a full partner with HUGA and HRM. The University has agreed to the location of the multi-purpose trail along the outer edge of their property along the railway cut

CN has agreed to permit the planning of a nature footpath on its railway cut property, pending negotiations with HRM on future access arrangements.

The preliminary design of the multi-purpose trail and nature footpath is being completed and will be presented to a public Open House at Saint Mary's University Art Gallery on Wednesday, May 4th, 6 to 9 p.m.. The maps to be discussed at that time have been posted in the "Maps" section of this website.

The multi-purpose trail is to be 8 to 9 feet (2.75 metres maximum) wide, paved with asphalt, plowed in the winter, and lighted where there are no nearby existing streetlights. It is to be located along the HRM sidewalk allowance unless there is a good reason not to. Avoiding mature trees on Beaufort Avenue has proven to be one of these reasons, plus the desire to avoid a "third lane added to the street" effect on Beaufort. As a result, the proposed alignment veers a short distance into CN property along several sections on Beaufort. This placement has yet to be confirmed with CN.

In early 2005, HUGA stated publicly its view that the "trucks in the cut" option for freight transportation from Halterm was not compatible with the Greenway concept nor the surrounding communities. HUGA obtained a copy of the first feasibility study and posted it in the "Reports" section of this website.

The Public Open House for the review of the Greenway Preliminary Design was held on May 4th at the Saint Mary's University Art Gallery, with perhaps 75 in attendance. There was radio and TV coverage of the event. Highlights of comments made on the survey forms that were filled out are on the "Reports" page.

Public meeting of November 27, 2002 and activities since

The public meeting was held at the Halifax Grammar School, 945 Tower Road starting at 7 p.m. Attendance was high, with the school auditorium almost filled to capacity with about 300 people, including Councillors Uteck and Fougere. Reaction from the meeting to the presentation of the Greenway Concept Plan was overwhelmingly favourable.

In February, 2003, HUGA's Board of Directors met with Mayor Kelly and received his support in principle. Subsequent to the meeting, the Mayor named a Departmental Director as the HRM contact person with CN.

Things were quiet until the spring of 2004 when HUGA received the remainder of the HRM funding needed to proceed with deatiled planning and design.

On May 15th,2004, Donalda Dickey and Janet Doyle, with assistance from Cleanup Nova Scotia and HRM Parks, organized a successful neighbourhood cleanup of garbage along the top of the railway cut.

During June, 2004, HUGA's Board drafted a detailed Request for Proposals for the detailed design of Phase One of the Greenway, between South Street and Point Pleasant Park. By mid-December, 2004, this had been re-drafted by HRM Parks staff and was ready to be advertised.

HUGA wrote to HRM and Transport Canada expressing concern about the threat to the Oakland Road dock as the site for a possible renewed Northwest Arm ferry. HUGA also wrote to the HRM Parks Department stating the hope that Point Pleasant Park will be rejuvenated as a destination area meeting the needs of the trail users which the Greenway will be bringing to it in the future.

Activities prior to public meeting, Nov. 27, 2002

We are a registered society which in our first steps:

1) delivered a "preliminary request for donation of lands" to CN's CEO by two members of this group before the Association's formation, involving considerable unclaimed personal expense as it was a colour presentation with copies to municipal officials (reply received from Mr. Tellier, copies previously distributed);

2) held a public Open House for 50 attendees to share information with the community on the CN Greenway as a potential location for a public trail, obtaining public support, more contacts and members, and accounts of history, enjoyment and use by the community;

3) held a series of Association meetings to further our understanding of the issues raised by the Greenway as home to a potential trail system, including: liability, conceptual and construction details, flora and fauna, relations with abutting landholders, and funding options;

4) was interviewed by a local distributed publication, the "Southender", on our goals.

A solid base of community support has been formed with a growing membership list and community awareness.

Starting in the summer of 2001, we have consulted or worked with CN Rail, Nova Scotia Power, Dalhousie University , Saint Mary's University, Halifax Regional Police and HRM Parks to develop the Halifax Urban Greenway Proposal.