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Friday, July 30, 2010

Province, City come to agreement on Bridge Terminal

Darrell Dexter saves face

Posted by Tim Bousquet on Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 3:03 PM

Halifax mayor Peter Kelly confirms that the city and the province have sorted out their differences with regard to Dartmouth Common issues, and the Bridge Terminal reconstruction plans are continuing without further change.

In June, Halifax council approved a plan to place an expanded Bridge Terminal on Common land, in a configuration that stretched the terminal from Nantucket Avenue to Thistle Street, just behind the Sportsplex on what is now the Urban Wilderness.

But soon after, premier Darrell Dexter caused the council much consternation by saying he had "concerns" with the plan. In a subsequent interview, Dexter admitted the city's plan was consistent with the Dartmouth Common Act, but said the issue was one of the "relationship between the government of Nova Scotia and the government of the city."

It seems Dexter hadn't thought through the issue-- Metro Transit says much of its expansion plans hinges on having a bigger and safer Bridge Terminal. Both bus drivers and bus riders have complained about safety and accessibility issues at the existing terminal, and it appeared Dexter was opposing much needed transit improvements.

The new agreement, announced yesterday in a vague press release, basically gives Dexter a way to save face. As Kelly describes it, the agreement allows the city to continue exactly as it intended with the terminal plans, but in return, the borders of the Common will be clarified. The Common Act will be "better defined" to include the triangular piece of land bordered by the old School Street extension, Victoria Road and Nantucket, and the old pavement will be torn up, the right-of-way formally dedicated to the Common.

Also, the existing park across Wyse Road from the Sportsplex-- the land bordered by the 99 Wyse parking lot, Wyse Road and Windmill Road, where councillor Gloria McCluskey had gotten outdoor gym equipment constructed-- will be designated as part of the Common. Likewise, the old museum property and a small stand of trees across Alderney Road will receive Common designation.

As well, some former Common land that had been hived off for other public purposes-- including the land under Dartmouth High and Bicentennial schools, the graveyards and some, but not all, of the social housing complex at the corner of Victoria and Boland, will be acknowledged as Common land.

In practical terms, the agreement doesn't change anything at all. It's conceivable, however, that into the future those properties could be pulled back a bit towards park-like uses.

Kelly says that the tender for construction of the terminal has already been put out, and council should approve the winning bid in coming weeks.

Tags: Bridge Terminal, Darrell Dexter, Peter Kelly

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There once was a terminal right on the DSC site Brewnoser, it was even worse than the one we have now (so I'm told) but it worked at the time because there were fewer buses. Besides, people already cross Nantucket in droves, this won't make it worse.

Posted by Plastic Diver Guy on August 5, 2010 at 2:56 PM | Report this comment

I agree with Brewnoser to a point, the DSC is the ideal location for said terminal, but there is no room left to build a terminal of the size needed there so we build behind the Sportsplex, which is the only spot left that works without futzing up Wyse Rd traffic.

Posted by mrhollett on August 2, 2010 at 11:19 PM | Report this comment

Wow! That's great. An exchange of the Wyse Road outdoor prison gym for the Wilderness Park. Excellent work guys! What a joke this city is. Metro Transit sucks. It is the worst public transit system in the country by far.

Posted by mtcc on August 2, 2010 at 4:39 PM | Report this comment

The tender was just issued today July 30 and closes Aug 31.
On site meeting Aug 10.
Tim, I think you should go to the mandatory on-site meeting and get the scoop. If you live near it I think a foundation inspection in August would be a prudent move.

Posted by Joeblow on July 30, 2010 at 4:55 PM | Report this comment

When does the rock blasting begin ?
Saving face ? He looks a twit jumping in on the isssue, clawing back a few scraps and dropping the news on a long weekend.
He must be smoking something given to him by the crowd that holds a smokeathon each Natal Day near the gazebo.

Posted by Joeblow on July 30, 2010 at 4:47 PM | Report this comment

since the location is a MAJOR transfer station between buses, not the end of the line I doubt they will be crossing in droves but okay, say they do...thankfully people actually stop at the crosswalk. Don't like it? Drive home a different way.

We the people without vehicles have the right to a safe transit stop.

Posted by funnygirl on July 30, 2010 at 3:33 PM | Report this comment

Regardless, it is still in the wrong place. People will still be crossing Nantucket in droves, heading to and from the mall where the terminal really ought to be. Classic Nova Scotian head in the sand decision.

Posted by Brewnoser on July 30, 2010 at 3:09 PM | Report this comment