The purpose of the plan is to establish a coordinated and strategic vision for a regional transportation system that makes sustainable growth and development possible and improves the safe and efficient flow of people and goods into, out of, and throughout Halifax and the surrounding region.

The plan will consider all modes of transportation that facilitate the movement of people (walking/rolling, cycling, buses, ferries, trains, vehicles) and goods (trucks, trains, ships, planes) as well as the associated infrastructure (streets, active transportation facilities, highways, bridges, rail corridors, ports - marine, ground, air).

This coordinated regional transportation system will help create the right conditions to support our provincial goals in terms of economic prosperity, health, education, population growth and climate change and ultimately help build sustainable communities. 

This means better connecting people to key regional destinations, providing more sustainable transportation options to help reduce the cost of living and ensuring the efficient flow of goods to drive economic growth. 

The regional transportation system includes major corridors and infrastructure that move a large volume of people and/or goods (like highways, arterial and collector roadways, major bridges, key active transportation and transit links, goods movement corridors, rail corridors, etc.).

Local streets, minor intersections, and local transit routes are not intended to be a priority focus of this effort unless they provide, or have the potential to provide, an important regional function.

For the areas outside HRM, the intent is to focus more on the movement of people and goods between communities.

Nova Scotia achieved a major milestone in 2021 – the province surpassed a population of one million people, following a period of record growth. Over 63% of the population of Nova Scotia live within Regional Transportation Plan area.

The Halifax region has been growing at a rapid pace. Between 2016 and 2021 the population of Halifax’s downtown core increased by 26%.  This trend continued in 2022, as the HRM population grew by 4.5% and the province population grew by 2.89%. This pace of growth has exceeded even the most optimistic population growth rates and represents some of the fastest growing regions in Canada.

Population and economic growth are key priorities for the province. The Government of Nova Scotia has identified a target to double the province’s population to two million people by 2060, with much of that growth expected in Halifax and the surrounding region. Planning for such growth requires collaboration across all levels of government, businesses, communities, and interest groups and a long-term strategy to ensure the region’s transportation system can support this in a sustainable and resilient manner.  

Transportation plays a significant role in the day-to-day lives of all Nova Scotians.

It enables access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities. It allows for the movement of goods to support people and the economy. It fosters independence and can help address issues of isolation and social and economic exclusion.