Link Nova Scotia (formerly the Joint Regional Transportation Agency) addressing transportation issues associated with the rapid growth taking place in Halifax and surrounding communities. To achieve this, we're developing a Regional Transportation Plan.
The Regional Transportation Plan will create a long-term, coordinated vision for our regional transportation system. The plan will guide integrated transportation and land use decision-making and infrastructure investments for all modes of transportation. Improving the flow of people and goods in and out of Halifax and surrounding communities is vital to all Nova Scotians.
To achieve this, we need to work together, cultivating new and existing partnerships and building solid long-lasting relationships locally, regionally, and nationally. Collaboration is one of the key values of the JRTA, and collaborative decision-making will be critical to the success of the JRTA and the development and execution of the Regional Transportation Plan.
Past Engagement
What We Heard
Thank you to those that visited our drop-in sessions on the Regional Transportation Plan. Our What We Heard report that summarizes our conversations throughout Stage 2 Engagement is now available.
Vision, Goals, and Principles
We’re pleased to share the finalized Vision, Goals, and Principles for the plan. The version you see here has been updated to include feedback from our working groups and the public survey.
While respondents overwhelmingly believed that the Vision (82%), Goals (86%), and Principles (86%) reflected the people that live and work in the study area, we heard requests for a greater focus on people, more emphasis on climate and environment, addressing car dependence, and inclusion of specific targets.
We’ve made changes to reflect these requests and will include specific targets later in plan development. These are more than guidance as we prepare the plan. The JRTA is using the goals to measure the effectiveness of different projects and policies during plan development.
You can find the final Vision, Goals, and Principles on our website.
What's being considered in the Regional Transportation Plan?
The plan will review all modes of transportation that move people (walking/rolling, cycling, buses, ferries, trains, vehicles) and goods (trucks, trains, ships, planes) as well as the infrastructure (streets, active transportation facilities, highways, bridges, rail corridors, ports) to make that movement possible.
Halifax and surrounding communities
The area being considered for the Regional Transportation Plan includes most of Nova Scotia’s population and one of the most important economic hubs in Atlantic Canada. This will play a critical role in advancing broader Provincial Government initiatives to tackle climate change, support growth and economic development, and improve Nova Scotia’s health, well-being, and quality of life.

The above map shows the areas included in the Regional Transportation Plan. The focus is on Halifax Regional Municipality, but the plan will also include communities that are around a one-hour travel time to Halifax as they have also experienced growth.
This area includes 14 municipalities in addition to Halifax Regional Municipality:
- Municipality of the County of Colchester
- Municipality of the County of Kings
- Municipality of the District of Chester
- Municipality of the District of Lunenburg
- Municipality of the District of West Hants
- Municipality of East Hants
| - Town of Berwick
- Town of Bridgewater
- Town of Kentville
- Town of Lunenburg
- Town of Mahone Bay
- Town of Stewiacke
- Town of Truro
- Town of Wolfville
|
And five First Nations:- Acadia First Nation
- Annapolis Valley First Nation
- Glooscap First Nation
- Millbrook First Nation
- Sipekne’katik First Nation
as well as urban Indigenous populations
|
|
Link Nova Scotia (formerly the Joint Regional Transportation Agency) addressing transportation issues associated with the rapid growth taking place in Halifax and surrounding communities. To achieve this, we're developing a Regional Transportation Plan.
The Regional Transportation Plan will create a long-term, coordinated vision for our regional transportation system. The plan will guide integrated transportation and land use decision-making and infrastructure investments for all modes of transportation. Improving the flow of people and goods in and out of Halifax and surrounding communities is vital to all Nova Scotians.
To achieve this, we need to work together, cultivating new and existing partnerships and building solid long-lasting relationships locally, regionally, and nationally. Collaboration is one of the key values of the JRTA, and collaborative decision-making will be critical to the success of the JRTA and the development and execution of the Regional Transportation Plan.
Past Engagement
What We Heard
Thank you to those that visited our drop-in sessions on the Regional Transportation Plan. Our What We Heard report that summarizes our conversations throughout Stage 2 Engagement is now available.
Vision, Goals, and Principles
We’re pleased to share the finalized Vision, Goals, and Principles for the plan. The version you see here has been updated to include feedback from our working groups and the public survey.
While respondents overwhelmingly believed that the Vision (82%), Goals (86%), and Principles (86%) reflected the people that live and work in the study area, we heard requests for a greater focus on people, more emphasis on climate and environment, addressing car dependence, and inclusion of specific targets.
We’ve made changes to reflect these requests and will include specific targets later in plan development. These are more than guidance as we prepare the plan. The JRTA is using the goals to measure the effectiveness of different projects and policies during plan development.
You can find the final Vision, Goals, and Principles on our website.
What's being considered in the Regional Transportation Plan?
The plan will review all modes of transportation that move people (walking/rolling, cycling, buses, ferries, trains, vehicles) and goods (trucks, trains, ships, planes) as well as the infrastructure (streets, active transportation facilities, highways, bridges, rail corridors, ports) to make that movement possible.
Halifax and surrounding communities
The area being considered for the Regional Transportation Plan includes most of Nova Scotia’s population and one of the most important economic hubs in Atlantic Canada. This will play a critical role in advancing broader Provincial Government initiatives to tackle climate change, support growth and economic development, and improve Nova Scotia’s health, well-being, and quality of life.

The above map shows the areas included in the Regional Transportation Plan. The focus is on Halifax Regional Municipality, but the plan will also include communities that are around a one-hour travel time to Halifax as they have also experienced growth.
This area includes 14 municipalities in addition to Halifax Regional Municipality:
- Municipality of the County of Colchester
- Municipality of the County of Kings
- Municipality of the District of Chester
- Municipality of the District of Lunenburg
- Municipality of the District of West Hants
- Municipality of East Hants
| - Town of Berwick
- Town of Bridgewater
- Town of Kentville
- Town of Lunenburg
- Town of Mahone Bay
- Town of Stewiacke
- Town of Truro
- Town of Wolfville
|
And five First Nations:- Acadia First Nation
- Annapolis Valley First Nation
- Glooscap First Nation
- Millbrook First Nation
- Sipekne’katik First Nation
as well as urban Indigenous populations
|
|