Infrastructure Plan
To reach our full potential, we need the right plan. The Halifax Port Authority is committed to working with the port community, industry, and government stakeholders to ensure the best plan for our city, region, and country.
The Halifax Port Authority, in partnership with its terminal operators, rail provider, cargo customers, municipal planners, and key stakeholders continues to look for means to reduce the number of port-related trucks transiting the downtown core. We have heard and understand that truck traffic is a concern for those who live, work, and spend time in downtown Halifax.
We have implemented a number of initiatives that are making a difference, including new technologies to reduce congestion. By working with port partners and stakeholders, the Halifax Port Authority has identified additional initiatives that are being explored:
The CN Intermodal Terminal in Moncton, New Brunswick started moving international cargo in 2017, taking New Brunswick and PEI cargo off the highway to Halifax and putting it onto rail. The results are positive with Atlantic Canadian containerized cargo moving through the terminal which is now operating at capacity.
The Port Operations Centre on the Port of Halifax website, has become a critical digital tool for the sharing of real-time information with customers and the larger community. Trucking companies and cargo owners can find up-to-the minute information on terminal gate metrics, weekly dwell time, arrivals and departures, and special alerts.
The first phase of this initiative has been operating since June 2018 and the data is available for anyone who visits the Port of Halifax Operations Centre on our website. The Terminal Gate Metrics module provides current visibility on fluidity of our truck gates through providing current and historic information on two key metrics:
The data is made publicly available in an effort to shorten wait times, reduce congestion, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. The latter data is imperative as the trucking industry implements electronic logging device regulations in 2020.
In partnership with CN Rail, HRM and the Government of Canada, the Port of Halifax is developing a rail solution to better integrate the movement of containers between the two container terminals by rail. The project will:
The Port of Halifax is looking at other potential options to further reduce truck traffic, they include: