Tse, Wendy, "Traffic Integration in Residential Areas: Methods for Halifax and Beyond"

The automobile is engrained in the lives of a significant portion of the population in Canada and it is unrealistic to eliminate its use. However, the intrusion of the car in some communities, particularly older, inner city neighbourhoods, has led to a decline in the quality of life for residents. Physical and legislative methods to integrate traffic in residential areas have the ability to reduce or halt this decline by discouraging through-traffic, improving driver behaviour and increasing safety. Land can often be reclaimed for residential uses, the environment improved and the vitality of a community restored. In the longer term, a rethinking of the city's form and the role of other modes of transportation is needed. Planners are in the position to influence any changes through their participation in the process.

This thesis begins with an examination of the residential environment and the impacts of traffic on the community followed by a documentation of the principles and objectives of traffic integration and common techniques which are effective in residential areas. A process for implementation, criteria for evaluation and some common objections to traffic integration are then presented. To illustrate the potential and opportunities for its use in present situations, two areas of Halifax are used as models. The existing legislative framework is considered and recommendations for changes to support any traffic integration scheme in Halifax are offered. Finally, the planner's role in promoting and supporting traffic integration methods, influencing legislation and making decisions which will decrease the impacts of car use in both the short and long terms is examined.

Traffic integration discussed in this thesis is only a small component of a larger scheme which involves drastic changes in attitudes concerning the dependency of the automobile in everyday life, the design of cities and the importance of reclaiming the natural environment.

Atlantic Planners Institute

This page and all contents are produced by the Atlantic Planners Institute, an affiliate of the Canadian Institute of Planners.

This document was last modified on November 14, 2000.