Halifax Transit bus route changes take effect Monday

The next round of Halifax Transit service changes will kick in on Monday, Nov. 22 as part of the municipality's Moving Forward Together Plan.

Full details, along with maps and schedules can be found on Halifax Transit's website.

Here's what you can expect:

Route 5 Portland

This replaces portions of former Routes 59, 61, and 68 to provide frequent, all-day service between Portland Hills Terminal and Scotia Square in Downtown Halifax, 7 days a week.

Route 6 A/B/C Eastern Passage 

This replaces discontinued routes 60 and 63 and provides service from Bridge Terminal to Woodside, Eastern Passage and Heritage Hills. 

It has three branches:

6A: Bridge Terminal to Woodside Ferry Terminal (weekdays only)
6B: Bridge Terminal to Woodside Ferry Terminal to Eastern Passage
6C: Bridge Terminal to Woodside Ferry Terminal to Heritage Hills

Buses will not go down Irving, Franklyn or Everette streets, and the number of buses going down Cow Bay Road, Caldwell Road and Shore Road loop will be reduced. Heritage Hills will get all day and weekend two-way service.

Route 7 A/B Peninsula

This replaces the discontinued 7 Robie but will be similar to the previous route, providing frequent, all-day service between North Ridge Road and South Street, 7 days a week.

Route 7A will travel clockwise and Route 7B will travel counter-clockwise.

Route 24 Leiblin Park 

This replaces discontinued Route 14 and will be the same from Leiblin Park to South Street, 7 days a week. However it will end at Inglis Street near Saint Mary's University and will not take passengers between SMU and Scotia Square. 

Route 26 Springvale

This replaces a portion of former Route 5 Chebucto and will be the same between Springvale and Mumford Terminal, running during rush-hour on weekdays only. However it will not continue into Downtown Halifax. Passengers heading downtown can connect to frequent corridor routes at Mumford Terminal.

Route 53 Highfield

This replaces Route 53 Notting Park, providing service from Highfield Terminal to Alderney Gate, 7 days a week. It will no longer continue to Halifax during peak hours but riders can find a connection at Alderney Gate. It will provide two-way service along the entire route and will not service Victoria Road.

Route 54 Montebello 

This route will provide service from Montebello to Alderney Gate and Bridge Terminal, 7 days a week. It will following a similar route as the former 54 from Montebello to Alderney Gate, but will then connect to the Bridge Terminal. Buses will provide additional service to the Keystone Village /Montebello area along Breeze Drive, Columbo Drive, and Appian Way. 

Route 55 Port Wallace 

This will provide service from Charles Keating Drive down Waverley Road as it heads to Micmac Terminal, Alderney Gate, and the Bridge Terminal, 7 days a week. It will follow a similar route as the former 55 between Craigburn Drive to Crichton Avenue, however Halifax Transit says, due to low ridership, buses will no longer go along Waverley Road between Montague Road and the Portobello turning loop near Highway 118. 

Route 57 Portland Estates 

This will provide service from Portland Hills Terminal to Penhorn Terminal during rush-hour on weekdays only. It will follow a similar route as the former 57, but won't go between Woodside Ferry Terminal and Penhorn Terminal.

Route 58 Woodlawn 

This will provide service from Portland Hills Terminal to Penhorn Terminal via Woodlawn, 7 days a week. It will no longer go to the northern part of Spring Avenue, but it will provide two-way service and travel the southern part of Spring Avenue, Collins Grove and Regal Road to connect to Portland Street. Once it reaches the Penhorn Terminal, it will be replaced by the new Route 158 Woodlawn Express during rush hour, in the peak direction, for those heading to Downtown Halifax. (Express Route 158 will also serve all local stops for Route 58.)

Route 59 Colby 

This will provide service from Colby Village to Portland Hills Terminal, 7 days a week following the same routing east of Portland Hills Terminal as the former Route 59 Colby. However, it now ends at Portland Hills Terminal, and the part of the journey heading to Downtown Halifax will be replaced by the new Route 159 Colby Express during rush hour, in the peak direction. (Express Route 159 will also serve all local stops for Route 59.)

Route 61 North Preston 

This will provide service from North Preston to Portland Hills Terminal, 7 days a week following the same routing as the former 61 between Highway 7 and North Preston. However, as it makes its way between Highway 7 and Portland Hills Terminal, it will now travel on the Forest Hills Parkway and Cole Harbour Road. When it reaches Portland Hills Terminal, it will be replaced by the new Route 161 North Preston Express during rush hour, in the peak direction, to carry passengers to Downtown Halifax. (Express Route 161 will also serve all local stops for Route 61.)

Route 62 Grahams Grove

This replaces portions of former Route 62 and 66, providing service from the Bridge Terminal to Alderney Gate, Penhorn Terminal and Gaston Road turning loop, 7 days a week. It will follow similar routing as former 62 Wildwood between the Bridge Terminal and Penhorn Terminal (Dartmouth), but will not go past Highway 111 to Woodlawn or Cole Harbour. Route 62 will also replace part of Route 66 Penhorn between Penhorn Terminal and the Gaston Road Turning Loop.

Route 63 Mount Edward 

This replaces portions of former Route 62, providing service from Penhorn Terminal to Portland Hills Terminal via Mount Edward Road, 7 days a week. It will follow similar routing as former 62 Wildwood between Penhorn Terminal and Forest Hills Parkway but will skip the southern portion of Flying Cloud Drive. Instead, it will continue south on Forest Hills Parkway and Cole Harbour Road, providing two-way service along the entire route and ending up at Portland Hills Terminal.

Route 65 Caldwell 

This will provide service from Caldwell Road to Portland Hills Terminal along Caldwell Road, Astral Drive, Sherwood Street and Brookfield Avenue, 7 days a week. When it reaches Portland Hills Terminal, it will be replaced by the new Route 165 Caldwell Express during rush hour, in the peak direction, for those heading to Downtown Halifax. (Express Route 165 will also serve all local stops for Route 65.)

Route 67 Baker

This will provide service from Woodside Ferry Terminal to Micmac Terminal via Baker Drive and Tacoma Centre, 7 days a week. It will also provide a connection between Micmac Terminal and Penhorn Terminal. It replaces former Route 66 Penhorn and the portion of Route 57 Russell Lake between Penhorn Terminal and Woodside Ferry Terminal.

Route 68 Cherry Brook

This will provide service from Cherry Brook to Portland Hills Terminal, 7 days a week, following the same routing as the former Route 68 Cherry Brook north of Hillsboro Drive. South of Hillsboro Drive, it will follow the same routing as the former Route 61 Auburn/North Preston, ending at Portland Hills Terminal. The new Route 168B will provide express service from Cherry Brook to Downtown Halifax during rush hour, in the peak direction. and Route 168A Auburn Express will run during rush hour, in peak direction, to service the Auburn area, Portland Hills Terminal, Penhorn Terminal, Bridge Terminal and Downtown Halifax. (Express Routes 168A and 168B will also serve all local stops for Route 68.)

Express Route 127 Cowie Hill 

This replaces former Route 32 and will provide service from Cowie Hill to Downtown Halifax during rush-hour on weekdays only, following similar routing as former Route 32 Cowie Hill Express, However, it will travel on Chebucto Road instead of Quinpool Road and won't go to Old Sambro Road east of Dunbrack Street. It will provide service to Long Lake Village. The new Route 127 Cowie Hill Express will run during rush hour, in the peak direction, to take riders from Cowie Hill to Downtown Halifax.

Express Route 158 Woodlawn 

Once Route 58 ends at Penhorn Terminal, it will be replaced by new Route 158 Woodlawn Express to provide service to Downtown Halifax during rush-hour on weekdays only. (Express Route 158 will also serve all local stops for Route 58.)

Express Route 159 Colby 

Once Route 59 reaches Portland Hills Terminal, it will be replaced by the new Route 159 Colby Express during rush hour, in the peak direction, to provide service to Downtown Halifax. (Express Route 159 will also serve all local stops for Route 59.)

Express Route 161 North Preston 

Once Route 61 ends at Portland Hills Terminal, it will be replaced by the new Route 161 North Preston Express during rush hour, in the peak direction, to provide service to Downtown Halifax. (Express Route 161 will also serve all local stops for Route 61.)

Express Route 165 Caldwell

Once Route 65 ends at Portland Hills Terminal, it will be replaced by the new Route 165 Caldwell Express during rush hour, in the peak direction, to provide service to Downtown Halifax. (Express Route 165 will also serve all local stops for Route 65.)

Express Route 168A Auburn/168B Cherry Brook 

Route 168A Auburn Express will run during rush hour, in peak direction to service Auburn area, Portland Hills Terminal, Penhorn Terminal, Bridge Terminal and Downtown Halifax.

Route 168B Cherry Brook Express will run during rush hour, in the peak direction, to provide express service from Cherry Brook to Downtown Halifax.

(Express Routes 168A and 168B will also serve all local stops for Route 68.)

Express Route 178 Mount Edward

This route replaces Route 78 and will provide service from Mount Edward to Woodside Ferry Terminal during rush-hour on weekdays only. It follow the same path as the former 78, but some trips have been removed from the schedule due to low ridership.

Express Route 179 Cole Harbour 

This route replaces former Route 79 and will provide service from Cole Harbour to Portland Hills Terminal and Woodside Ferry Terminal during rush-hour on weekdays only. It will follow the same roads as the former 79, but some trips have been removed from the schedule due to low ridership.

Route 401 Porters Lake 

This will now run seven days a week, but will no longer head down to the Grand Desert area. Instead, it will provide service from Portland Hills Terminal to Lakeview Shopping Centre, ending at the Porters Lake Park & Ride.

There will also be minor adjustments to routes 90 Larry Uteck, 91 Hemlock Ravine, 194 West Bedford Express, and Route 433 Tantallon to provide service to the new West Bedford Park & Ride.