Winter tires ‘unnecessary’ for Halifax Transit buses
Posted Sep 9, 2015 06:08:55 AM.
Last Updated Sep 9, 2015 06:20:43 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – Buses stuck in the snow were a common sight last winter as the Halifax-area was hit by heavy snowfall, flash freezing and ice build up.
That left many wondering why Halifax Transit’s fleet of buses weren’t equipped with winter tires.
Halifax Transit director Eddie Robar told Regional Council on Tuesday, the current tires are the best available for the weather conditions in Nova Scotia, and the all-season tread design is an industry standard across the country.
Robar said winter tires were unnecessary, but the transit authority is still increasing the minimum tread depth of tires from 4/32 of inch to 8/32 of an inch, in order to further boost traction.
He added winter tires used in Europe are too big for the Halifax Transit fleet, as well as buses being used in other Canadian municipalities.
The city is also launching a pilot project to study whether rear tires with one-directional treads would decrease the number of accidents.
During Tuesday’s meeting, council also agreed to ask the province to amend Halifax’s charter so that changes can be made to campaign financing by-laws.
The city wants to tighten the rules around spending and donations during municipal election campaigns, but needs the province’s approval to do so.
Council also unanimously voted in favour of a motion put forward by Councillor Stephen Adams that would explore the cost of extending recycling pick-up to the suburbs and rural areas of the municipality.
A by-law for storm water management and lot grading that is now eight years in the making was also put off once again to be further studied by the committee of the whole.
