Planning For Transportation Changes

Nova Scotia motorists will have time to become familiar with new rules of the road before amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act will be enforced. The act was amended during the fall session of the Legislature.

Transportation and Public Works Minister Ron Russell said the public will be given plenty of notice before the new motor vehicle laws take effect. "A series of actions are necessary before amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act are proclaimed," he said.

The pending changes include measures that will:

• allow left turns on a red light from a one-way street onto another one-way street;
• make booster seats mandatory for children too small for regular seat belts;
• convert rotaries into modern roundabouts; and
• introduce transit priority signal lights at selected intersections in the Halifax Regional Municipality.

Ralph Hessian, director of highway engineering services for Transportation and Public Works, said certain rules of the road cannot be implemented overnight.

"We need to communicate with local traffic authorities, create new signage and educate motorists before these changes can become law."

For example, Mr. Hessian said, signs need to be created to prohibit left turns on red lights onto one-way streets, in areas where it would unsafe. This would be similar to current signs that limit a right turn on a red light.

The current seatbelt regulations need to be revised to reflect the new booster seat requirements. The road safety advisory committee will be presenting recommendations to government on these necessary revisions. Mr. Hessian said, "We will be providing guidelines for parents on who needs a booster seat, as well as promoting awareness regarding an implementation date."

Both changes could take effect within six months.

Mr. Russell said it would be at least one year before the province's first modern roundabout is constructed. Transit priority signal light changes may be implemented within six months.

One piece of legislation that did not pass in the fall sitting but is still moving forward involves the Capital Transportation Authority.

The Transportation and Public Works minister said the provincial government supports Halifax Regional Municipality's (HRM) desire to plan and manage its own transportation system through a Capital Transportation Authority.

Mr. Russell said he expects legislation on the issue will be back in the House of Assembly next spring. He said in the meantime the province and HRM will continue to discuss details about the direction of the authority. "We are taking a co-operative approach to managing traffic planning, especially for future growth in HRM," Mr. Russell said.

Mayor Peter Kelly said, "HRM is proceeding with its transportation authority and we are pleased to be working with Transportation and Public Works staff to flesh out the details of the new authority. We are hoping this group will have a framework and recommendations to bring to the minister and the regional council early in the new year."

Both levels of government expect that the authority will enhance HRM's ability to co-ordinate transportation planning and development.