P.O. Box 1749 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3A5 Canada Item No. 11.4.1 Halifax Regional Council February 23, 2021 TO: Mayor Savage Members of Halifax Regional Council Original Signed SUBMITTED BY: Councillor David Hendsbee, Chair, Harbour East – Marine Drive Community Council DATE: February 5, 2021 SUBJECT: Dahlia-Oak-Crichton Active Transportation Connections ORIGIN • February 4, 2021 special meeting of Harbour East – Marine Drive Community Council, Item 13.1.3. LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY Halifax Regional Municipality Charter, Part 1, Clause 25(c): The powers and duties of a Community Council include recommending to the Council appropriate by- laws, regulations, controls and development standards for the community. RECOMMENDATION Harbour East – Marine Drive Community Council recommend that Halifax Regional Council approve the permanent implementation of 680m of enhanced walking, rolling, and cycling facilities connecting the Dartmouth Common to the Shubenacadie Canal Greenway via Dahlia Street and Sullivan’s Pond Park as described in the ‘Discussion’ section of the January 27, 2021 report. BACKGROUND Harbour East – Marine Drive Community Council received a staff recommendation report dated January 27, 2021 to consider proposed permanent implementation of 680 meters of enhanced walking, rolling, and cycling facilities connecting the Dartmouth Common to the Shubenacadie Canal Greenway via Dahlia Street and Sullivan’s Pond Park. For further information refer to the attached staff report dated January 27, 2021. DISCUSSION Harbour East – Marine Drive Community Council considered the January 27, 2021 staff report dated and approved a motion recommending Halifax Regional Council give first reading and schedule a public hearing. Dahlia-Oak-Crichton Active Transportation Connections Council Report - 2 - February 23, 2021 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS Financial implications are outlined in the attached staff report dated January 27, 2021. RISK CONSIDERATION Risk consideration is outlined in the attached staff report dated January 27, 2021. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Community Council meetings are open to public attendance and members of the public are invited to address the Community Council for up to five minutes at the end of each meeting during Public Participation. Community Councils’ agendas, reports, and minutes are posted on Halifax.ca. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS Environmental implications are outlined in the staff report dated January 27, 2021. ALTERNATIVES Harbour East – Marine Drive Community Council did not consider alternatives. Alternatives are outlined in the attached staff report dated January 27, 2021. ATTACHMENTS Attachment 1 – Staff recommendation report dated January 27, 2021. ___________________________________________________________________________ A copy of this report can be obtained online at halifax.ca or by contacting the Office of the Municipal Clerk at 902.490.4210. Report Prepared by: Simon Ross-Siegel, Legislative Assistant, Municipal Clerk’s Office 902.490.6519 ____________________________________________________________________________________ P.O. Box 1749 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3A5 Canada Attachment 1 Harbour East – Marine Drive Community Council Special Meeting February 4, 2021 TO: Chair and Members of Harbour East – Marine Drive Community Council -Original Signed- SUBMITTED BY: ____________________________________________________ Brad Anguish, Executive Director, Transportation and Public Works -Original Signed- Jacques Dubé, Chief Administrative Officer DATE: January 27, 2021 SUBJECT: Dahlia-Oak-Crichton Active Transportation Connections ORIGIN Halifax Integrated Mobility Plan (2017), Action #72: Deliver the Regional Centre all ages and abilities bicycle network by 2022. Making Connections: 2014-2019 Halifax Active Transportation Priorities Plan (2014), Recommendation #20: To achieve the goal of doubling of AT mode share, the Municipality needs to focus AT plan implementation for cycling on the types of infrastructure preferred by new bicyclists. LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY Halifax Regional Municipality Charter, Section 322(1): Council may design, lay out, open, expand, construct, maintain, improve, alter, repair, light, water, clean, and clear streets in the Municipality. Administrative Order 2016-002OP Respecting the Implementation of Local Street Bikeways: Section 6: Council shall consider whether to designate a Local Street Bikeway on its own motion or on the recommendation by a Community Council. Section 7(1): Council may designate a Local Street Bikeway if: (a) The route is designated as a candidate route in the Active Transportation Priorities Plan or Council otherwise designates the route by resolution; and (b) Schedules 1, 2, and 3 have been followed. RECOMMENDATION ON PAGE 2 Dahlia-Oak-Crichton Active Transportation Connections Community Council Report - 2 - February 4, 2021 Motor Vehicle Act, 90(3): The traffic authority may also mark lanes for traffic on street pavements at such places as they may deem advisable, consistent with this Act and may erect traffic signals consistent with this Act to control the use of lanes for traffic. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that Harbour East-Marine Drive Community Council recommend that Halifax Regional Council approve the permanent implementation of 680m of enhanced walking, rolling, and cycling facilities connecting the Dartmouth Common to the Shubenacadie Canal Greenway via Dahlia Street and Sullivan’s Pond Park as described in the ‘Discussion’ section of this report. BACKGROUND Policy Direction The Dahlia Street corridor represents a key connection in the Regional Centre ‘All Ages and Abilities’ (AAA) Bikeway Network with both local and regional importance. The proposed east-west route will connect the Dartmouth Common (nearby Macdonald Bridge, Halifax Transit Terminal) to the Shubenacadie Canal Greenway and beyond. Nearby destinations also include the Zatzman Sportsplex, Dartmouth High, and numerous paddling clubs. The enhancements along this corridor could also form part of the NS Blue Route and connect to The Great Trail (Trans Canada Trail). Figure 1: Dahlia Street corridor within the Regional Centre All Ages and Abilities (AAA) Bikeway Network Dahlia-Oak-Crichton Active Transportation Connections Community Council Report - 3 - February 4, 2021 The project aligns with the following HRM plans: Integrated Mobility Plan (IMP): Dahlia Street is identified as a ‘candidate local street bikeway’ corridor as part of the All Ages and Abilities (AAA) cycling network in the core of Dartmouth. Proposed bikeway treatments will also use an IMP ‘Complete Streets’ lens to incorporate improvements for all road users wherever possible, particularly those walking and rolling. Making Connections: 2014-19 Halifax Active Transportation Priorities Plan (AT Plan): The above described route on Dahlia Street is listed in this plan as ‘proposed local street bikeway’ connecting Victoria Road to Crichton Ave. The connection through Sullivan’s Pond Park to Lake Banook and the Shubenacadie Canal Greenway is listed as a multi-use pathway connection. Implementing All Ages and Abilities Facilities Professional associations such as the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) provide guidelines for bicycle facility-type selection and design. Criteria for implementing safer bicycling facilities include the volume and speed of motor vehicles and the complexity of intersections with major streets. The streets being considered for these bikeway connections are low-volume, residential streets, most appropriate for a local street bikeway facility. The aim is to create a street environment where bicyclists can comfortably share the road with motor vehicles in a shared, single file travel lane without the need for painted lanes or separation. Features of Local Street Bikeways include: • Pavement markings and wayfinding signage; • Treatments to reduce motor vehicle speed; • Treatments to reduce the number of vehicles using the street (particularly non-local shortcutting); • Treatments to facilitate the crossing of major intersections for people bicycling; and, • Additional bicycle amenities, streetscaping features and pedestrian enhancements where possible. Administrative Order 2016-002OP regarding the Implementation of Local Street Bikeways (2016) outlines the process for establishing these facilities as well as some thresholds for where traffic calming and diversion may be considered. Please refer to Attachment A for a detailed summary of facility selection considerations and criteria for local street bikeway planning. Context and Existing Conditions Dahlia Street is a local, residential road that spans 530m between Victoria Road and Crichton Avenue. The street links two important green spaces, the Dartmouth Common and Sullivan’s Pond Park, with connections to the Shubenacadie Canal Greenway for active recreation and transportation purposes. The street is approximately 9m wide with sidewalk on both sides, with the exception of the block between Beech Street and Crichton Avenue where there is only sidewalk on the south side. On- street parking is permitted on both sides of the street with hourly restrictions closer to Victoria Road. Figure 2: Project Area Dahlia-Oak-Crichton Active Transportation Connections Community Council Report - 4 - February 4, 2021 There are two minor crossings to consider (Pine Street and Beech Street) and three major crossings (Victoria Road, Maple Street, and Crichton Avenue). There is an existing pedestrian-actuated