Halifax Transit could greenlight future transit plans early

HRM budget committee will consider adding funds to Halifax Transit’s new reduced 2026-27 budget, in response to requests from the committee to find savings.

Halifax Transit presented its proposed budget for fiscal 2026-27 to Halifax regional council at Wednesday’s budget committee meeting. Representatives from Halifax Transit said the budget plan was modelled with Halifax Transit’s core services plan in mind. 

The plan focuses on “short-term route and service level adjustments to better meet current demand while anticipating future needs.” The changes outlined include expanded service hours, more buses, and route modifications.

Halifax Transit’s latest quarterly report had on-time performance at 72 per cent, below the target of 85 per cent. 

This short-term plan is designed to increase reliability from 2026-27 to 2029-30. A growing population makes issues like overcrowding on buses a concern for Halifax Transit. Still, the 2026/27 core services plan timeline only has some route adjustments and increased Sunday service. 

Halifax Transit executive director Robin Gerus said with its proposed 2026-27 budget, he is trying to reduce “tax impact” after being asked by council to do so.  

After it was asked to find savings to help control residential tax rates, Halifax Transit proposed cutting nine transit routes and hiring more drivers to reduce overtime costs. Three of the proposed cut routes are rural and the only transit services available for those communities. If kept, the other six routes would be expected to maintain or increase ridership.  

District 8 Coun. Virginia Hinch asked if there is capacity in the budget to move up service improvement recommendations by one year, from 2027-28 to 2026-27. 

Many of the plan’s recommendations involve new bus stops and aren’t in Halifax Transit’s 2026-27 budget. Patricia Hughes, Halifax Transit’s director of planning and customer engagement, said “easier” recommendations without new bus stops could be introduced early.  

Gerus said with ten new buses, service expansion for routes 3, 9A/B and 28 could be introduced in 2026-27. 

While it’s unclear how much tax bills would increase, Halifax Transit’s capital budget would need to be increased by $13 million for ten new buses and its operational budget by $1.5 million. 

On Thursday, the committee passed District 10 Coun. Kathryn Morse’s motion to consider approving these budget increases. 

Gerus said he doesn’t want to overpromise on what Halifax Transit can deliver considering council is looking to avoid tax increases. Still, he said he knows Halifax Transit needs to serve its customers better. 

“But … (that) doesn’t mean we can’t move faster.”