One of the first areas addressed in the Master plan is traffic. The overall road layout can been seen in the master diagram above. Specifically note the North end, Fairview overpass areas.
The plan makes several specific recomndations for street layouts, but more generally recommends
- circulation and control of traffic at important intersections by “cloverleafs”, Traffic circles” or other means
- Strictly regulating Curb parking to permit free movement of traffic
- off-street parking and loading space provided in business sections
- streets in future subdivisions be designed to serve type of traffic neededB
The report blames congestion not just on volume, but on Poor road design, parking which interfears with free flow of vehicles, and unnessasary interferances at intersections.
The report lays out the proposed roadway changes as a series of Numbered proposals.
The first proposal (Proposal one) calls for a diagonal street running from the corner of Water and George to Gottingen and Cunard, then Robie and North. The report also recommend that provisions be made for elevating this highway from water to Gottingen, with renting space out below. (Image below)
InB proposal three, the report suggests widening North into 2 lanes each direction, for provision of the bridge. (Image Below). The bridge location between North St. in Halifax, and Thistle St. in Dartmouth B was approved by Dominion Authorities and the British Admiralty in 1933. The report assumed that his would be the location for it, however made reference to the possibility of a bridge in the narrows.
Proposal 19 continues Connaught Ave to Inglis as a boulavard, and becomes the princlple north sourth connector across the penisula to the the North West Arm bridge. the North West Arm bridge is intended to B assist with the “steady movement of population form the city to the suburbs, both to the east and west, inspite of inadequite transportation facilities” (below)
Improvemnts are also suggested for the ferry terminal area, for imporved passenger and vehicle handleing, and to the modern fairview overpass area where streets are re-aligned and provided with a traffic circle.
The full effect of these roadway layouts can be seen in the Master Plan Map at the top of the post. the use of Diagnols and trafic circles certainly harks back to the Hausman Plan of Paris which was implemented.
In All, the Master plan makes 20 proposals and 16 recomendations for street and traffic improvements.B The remaining proposals not discussed make recomendations about specific blocks and streets.
The master plan also addresses Air and Rail transportation in the city.B The master plan identifies the existing civil airport off chubucto road is inadequate, and recommends that it should be replaced. the 72 acres of airport land should be developed as residential.
- The new airport location should be
- in a low priced land area
- neet the needs of arial transportation for the next 20-25 years
- permit expansion in the future.
The report suggest a site west of the northwest arm, which will be easily accessible once the bridge is Built.
The report takes a dim view of rail, and cites Canadian National Railways for carrying out 2 construction programs that Introduced Blight and decay spreading over large areas and blames these programs for reducing residential value. It also blames a lack of planning for there being a North and South end terminal, thought they are not connected across the harbourfront, leaving many areas without sufficent rail coverage. The report blames the north end terminal construction for causing blight in those areas, and then again blames the post war construction of the railcut, which blighting the south and west ends as well.
The reports recommendations for rail are that
- modern electric or diesel motive power be used within 10miles B of the city
- portions of the right of way visible form homes be beautified
- present trainshed, baggage, mail and express faclities be reconstructed
- armdale staion be enlarged to offer full services.
Rail is blamed directly for being Dirty (Coal burning locomotives were) and causing blight and decay in Halifax. Air travel, still being relatively new, is seen as warranting improvment, and there is no mention of assciated noise
