Frustration Over Unfinished Business On Spring Garden Road
HALIFAX — As the city of Halifax continues to change the way Spring Garden Road looks and functions, there have been many growing pains and frustrations amongst the business community.
Prior to Halifax launching the bus-only pilot project earlier in July, a poll of merchants found support for banning vehicles on the busy street was split down the middle. Support likely didn’t increase when HRM put the project on hold after just a few days.
Councilor Waye Mason says he and the city still support making the street vehicle-free (besides transit), it’s just a matter of putting up better signage and better communicating the changes to the public.
“We do want that to be bus-only, I do stand by that. I still think it’s a good idea. But you don’t want to have 90 percent non-compliance,” said Mason.
“You do a pilot to learn what the challenges are and to respond to them. The whole point of a pilot project is you accept some risk, and you have some failures that you may have to address.”
In an email to Huddle, a spokesperson for HRM said they are reevaluating the pilot project over the coming weeks. By all accounts, the street will soon be going back to bus-only.
“The Spring Garden Road Bus-only Pilot is being paused due to operational concerns. Staff has determined that traffic control measures need to be improved, including visibility for signage and changes in vehicle and pedestrian signaling,” reads the email.
“Staff will look at solutions to these operational concerns in the coming weeks and will reevaluate the project. Any changes will be communicated as soon as possible.”
Despite the controversy the bus-only project has caused, the Spring Garden Area Business Association has other concerns about the street.
Sue Uteck, executive director of the business association, says she and the business community along Spring Garden are more concerned that the streetscaping is not yet complete. The work, which widened the sidewalks and looked to beautify the street, was supposed to be done between June-December of 2021.
While the major work, like the widening, is done, Uteck is annoyed that the new planting isn’t complete. She was particularly disappointed nothing was able to get done before tens of thousands of people hit Spring Garden for Pride festivities last weekend.
“To be Frank, this (pilot project) was not an issue for our association; this was an HRM project. They were going to do it whether we opposed it or not. That did not matter,” said Uteck.
“Our biggest concern right now is the streetscape project-and it’s still not finished. Number two is the issues we’re having on the street with aggressive panhandlers.”
In an email conversation with HRM staff, Uteck was told the planters need the right soil, hence the delay.
“Unfortunately, the delay in planting the planters is around the acquisition of an appropriate soil, so getting dirt in the planters is not an option,” reads an email to Uteck. “The soil required is a special blend of sand and organic mix that allows for appropriate drainage (which is necessary to avoid the concrete mud situation we have today).”
Uteck acknowledges that the other issue – that of the amount of panhandling on Spring Garden – is much more difficult to address. But it has become an issue for certain businesses since some are discouraged from entering an establishment if they’re going to be asked for money.
“We’re all dealing with the people at risk issue; drug addiction and mental health…the system is, frankly, overwhelmed.”
“The people on Spring Garden are very generous. Nobody goes without a coffee or a meal. It’s an inviting place. You have a large volume of street traffic. If someone is going to give you money, that’s the place to go.”
“People don’t feel comfortable going into a bank because there’s somebody outside asking them for money. It’s a busy street; it’s four short blocks and there’s a lot of people asking for a handout.”
Derek Montague is a Huddle reporter in Halifax. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].