Opinion Piece Criticizes Halifax Robie Street BRT Project Over Housing and Heritage Concerns
An opinion article by Andrea Arbic argues that the Halifax Regional Municipality's plan to widen Robie Street for a bus rapid transit project is fiscally and socially irresponsible, citing the $64.5 million acquisition of 33 properties containing affordable housing and potential damage to heritage streetscapes.
Residents along Robie Street between North and Cunard streets have noticed windows being boarded up in local buildings. The Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) purchased these structures to make way for the widening of Robie Street and the implementation of the Robie Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
In an opinion piece, Andrea Arbic criticizes the HRM and provincial partnership behind the initiative. According to the article, HRM spent an estimated $64.5 million to buy 33 properties containing dozens of affordable housing units. Arbic argues that this land acquisition is fiscally and socially irresponsible during a housing crisis, as it leads to the demolition of buildings containing affordable housing.
In 2025, HRM estimated the entire Robie Street BRT project would cost approximately $150 million. Construction is expected to get underway in 2028 and be completed four years later. Beyond the financial costs, the opinion piece warns that the project will result in the destruction of a heritage streetscape and the cutting down of dozens of trees.
Arbic compares the current BRT proposal to the halted Harbour Drive plan of the 1960s, warning that the project may cause irreversible damage to the city's character without significantly improving traffic. The article points to the Cogswell Interchange near the Halifax waterfront—the only part of the proposed Harbour Drive that was ultimately implemented—which cost residents $138 million to fix. The Heritage Trust is also referenced in connection with concerns over the project's potential long-term negative impact on Halifax.