School Avenue Documents - Page 3

This e-mail is going to Peter Merritt and Don Feeney, with a copy to Paul O'Brien and HRM Councillor Russell Walker.

I'm following up on my recent conversation with Peter, and the voicemail I left for Don.

It is my understanding that:
a. DOTPW has money in this year's budget for work on School Avenue;
b. it is DOTPW's intention to put out a tender sometime fairly soon, i.e. within a week or two;
c. the work most likely to be done this year is replacement of the rusted fence with a coated, non-rusting fence (see note below), and some planting of vegetation along the portion of the fence that is level with the BiHi;
d. it is possible that the work may be spread over more than one budget year;
e. DOTPW will be in touch with me, in advance of the work being done, in order that School Avenue residents can be informed of what will happen and when.

Please let me know if any part of my understanding is incorrect. As you know, replacement of the fence and planting of vegetation were identified by residents as their highest priorities, and so this work plan would be in keeping with their wishes.

On the subject of the fence, I want to mention that many residents expressed a strong desire to move the fence a few feet towards the BiHi, if that's at all possible. School Avenue is already an unusually narrow street. In winter, when snow is pushed against the fence, an already narrow street becomes even narrower. Moving the fence would also make it easier for vegetation to be planted on the School Avenue side of the fence.

As I mentioned in my conversation with Peter, some kind of advance notice to residents would be most helpful, so that they know what to expect and when. As I put it to Peter, I wouldn't want residents to wake up one morning to find that work had started without them knowing what was going on.

As I also discussed with Peter, I'm more than happy to be the conduit of information to residents. If DOTPW can let me know what is happening and when, I'll have a letter at every School Avenue door within 24 hours.

With thanks for your assistance on this project,
Graham

Hi Russell and Linda.

This e-mail is about the Bicentennial Highway. I'm sending it to both of you since the BiHi is the dividing line between your districts.

As Russell knows, I've been doing a fair amount of work with School Avenue residents, dealing with all the issues that come with living beside a major highway. Fortunately we've been able to get some money out of the Province this year, so there will be some small improvements. (The main one is that the ugly rusted fence will be replaced.)

In the course of talking to residents, I've heard a number of times that they think HRM could do more to enhance this gateway to the city. They're aware that the Province owns the highway, but at the same time they're wondering if HRM could work on beautifying this stretch of road to leave on visitors a strong first impression of the city.

What do you think? Is there any scope for doing something here from HRM's end?

Best regards,
Graham

Mr. Steele :

The current legislation is Section 181A which explicitly prohibits the use of a dual engine enhanced braking system within speed limits of 50 km/h or less. Thus , this section cannot be applied to a 70 km/h speed limit.

Speed limits on any section of highway are established to declare an appropriate maximum limit to provide a reasonable speed giving due consideration of the highway classification , traffic operating conditions, roadway design features and roadside characteristics.On Highway 102 there exists a series of transitional speed limits to in an orderly manner bring vehicle speeds from 100 km/h to 50 km/h as traffic travels from a high speed free flow facility to an urban street.

At this time based upon the traffic and roadway conditions , a further extension of the 50 km/h speed limit does not appear an appropriate action : however in light of your inquiry I will ask the District Traffic Authority for our Central District , Mr. Jim Jerram , to conduct an investigation to determine whether an extension can be justified on an engineering basis.

Mr. Jerram will advise you directly of the results of his investigation.

Ralph Hessian P.Eng.
Director Highway Engineering Services

Telephone 424-4268
Fax 902 424-0571

August 1, 2002

Dear Resident of School Avenue:

I met this morning with officials from the Department of Transportation. Good news! Improvements to School Avenue will soon be going ahead. The Department will soon be issuing a contract for the following work:

1. The existing fence will be replaced by a new, non-rusting fence.
2. The new fence will be two feet further out than the existing fence. This will leave more room for snow and ice. This should help keep School Avenue wider in winter.
3. An evergreen hedge will be planted for 350 metres along the portion of School Avenue that is level with the highway (this will be from #55 to #105, more or less), and for another 50 metres at the very top of School Avenue where the walkway is.

The work is likely to start sometime after Labour Day in September, and will be completed by October 31st at the latest. The work will take about two weeks from beginning to end.

In my opinion, this plan does reflect the priorities of School Avenue residents, as stated at the residents' meeting in March and in numerous conversations I've had with residents.

If you have any objection to this plan, or any questions, please call me at 453-5556 or send an e-mail to graham@grahamsteele.ca. The tender for these improvements will be issued during the week of August 12th, so any questions or concerns should be raised as soon a possible.

Thank you to all School Avenue residents for participating in the process that led to these long-awaited improvements.

Yours sincerely,
Graham Steele, MLA
Halifax Fairview

Gentlemen:

I have started receiving some feedback from School Avenue residents and it is uniformly positive. They are pleased with how the project turned out.

I did want to bring a few small points to your attention:

1. A resident called me today to say that he believes some of the trees may have been stolen. He estimates the number at 10-15. He said this would be approximately opposite #115. He's not absolutely certain that the trees are missing, but he thinks he's right and thought someone more knowledgeable than he should check.

2. The same resident noted that the fence is higher than it used to be. It appears the new fence was measured from the top of the kerb, not the top of the roadway. (He pointed out that the old fence was installed when there was no kerb.) Although this is not necessarily a problem, it's worth noting that there is now a sizeable gap between the bottom of the fence and the ground.

3. Another resident raised this concern: "i noticed the resodding done inside the fence stopped at 85 school ave. It looks very attractive and adds to the fence appearance,in other words it polishes off the finished product. I think it should extend further down the street and not be abuptly stopped where it did".

I would welcome your comments on these items.

Best regards,
Graham

Graham thank you for your positive comment on the overall project on School Avenue. As for the three concerns that you raised,

1)There have been eleven trees that were stolen from the site. This has been reported to the HRM Police Dept. and they are investigating.

2)In some locations there were gaps under the fence and in these areas fill and sods have been added. After talking to the Project Engineer, Mike Rogers I was advised that some of the gaps under the fence are on solid rock and these areas would be filled in with a recycled asphalt material by the Dept of Trans. maintenance forces.

3)The sod that was put on the job was to fill in the gaps under the fence as noted in item 2

I would like to thank you for your cooperation and assistance on this job.

Thank you,

Don Feeney
Construction Manager

Dear Mr. Steele:

Re: Adopt a Highway
Bi Hi @ School Avenue

I have reviewed the site of the proposed adopt a highway initiative adjacent to School Avenue. Myself and several other staff responsible for the Department's participation in the 100 Series highway Trail sites, viewed and discussed the risk and benefits of a Trial at the School Avenue site.

Although the residents would be well served by a cooperative approach to this site I must advised the Department is not prepared to permit residents to participate in debris removal at this location. Clearly the decision was based on safety, highway design and traffic volumes. Although disappointing I am hopeful you and the residents can appreciate the decision.

Yours truly,

Paul O'Brien, P.Eng.
Area Manager Suburban Halifax

Dear School Avenue resident:

I am writing with an update on the "jake brakes" issue, and a few other things related to the highway.

1. Construction

The construction work on the Bicentennial Highway is scheduled to be finished by the end of October.

2. Litter Pick-Up Along the Fence

In the middle portion of School Avenue where the street is level with the highway, litter collects along the fence and can be an eyesore.

Earlier this year, I applied under the Adopt-a-Highway program for permission to have local residents (including me!) pick up the litter. The application was rejected because of safety concerns. There is, they say, no safe way for us to get to the other side of the fence.

I was recently informed by Department of Transportation officials that DOT crews pick up garbage along the School Avenue fence every two weeks. If that is true, that is about as good as we can expect. But if you have information indicating that garbage is not being picked up that frequently, let me know.

If you see a situation requiring immediate clean-up (e.g. a truck losing part of its load), please call the DOT Beechville depot at 450-5281. They will send out a clean-up crew immediately. If the situation is a hazard to traffic, please call the RCMP.

3. Trees

You'll recall that a row of trees was planted at the same time the new fence was installed. This particular kind of tree is supposed to be able to withstand the harsh roadside conditions.

A few of the trees were stolen as soon as they were planted. As for the rest, some are doing great, some aren't doing so great, and some are dead.

I have brought this problem to the attention of the Department of Transportation. They say they will replace the dead trees in the spring, when growing conditions are more favourable.

4. Jake brakes

"Jake brakes" are those really noisy engine brakes that some trucks while travelling on the Bicentennial Highway as it passes your neighbourhood. You'll recall that, back in the early summer, I wrote to you about a provincial project to reduce the use of jake brakes.

The project has four parts: (1) collection of noise and speed data, (2) placing of "no engine braking" signs, (3) collection of more noise and speed data, to see if the signs make any difference, and (4) evaluation.

The project is moving along – slowly. Step #1 (collection of noise and speed data) has been completed. Step #2 (placing of signs) is on hold until the construction work is completed at the end of October. A sign was erected by mistake, and then taken down. Another sign was placed at the end of the on-ramp from Northwest Arm Drive, but DOT acknowledges it is far too small. They are trying to get larger signs.

Although the pilot project is proceeding slowly, remember that this is the first time that the Department of Transportation has tried to restrict the use of engine brakes in zones with a speed limit higher than 50 kph. They are making some mistakes, and learning from them, and that is what a pilot project is for.

As soon as Steps #2 and #3 are completed, and I have the Department's report, I will inform School Avenue residents of the results.

As always, I welcome your comments, suggestions and questions.

Yours sincerely,
Graham Steele, MLA
Halifax Fairview

The Honourable Ronald Russell
Minister of Transportation and Public Works
2nd floor, Johnston Building
P.O. Box 186
Halifax, NS B3J 3Z8

Dear Minister Russell:

I recently met with residents of School Avenue in Halifax. As I am sure you are aware, School Avenue fronts on the Bi-Centennial Highway, which is a provincial responsibility and the reason I am contacting you.

The residents have asked that "No Jake Brake" signs be installed along the Bi-Hi prohibiting the use of jake brakes by large trucks on the Bi-Hi.

Graffiti has been painted on the concrete structure which residents find extremely offensive and often encourages more graffiti.

Residents have once again requested that some form of noise barrier be installed along the Bi-Hi to limit the noise to abutting residences.

Concrete barriers were left behind from previous construction/repair work completed on behalf of the Province of Nova Scotia. The residents have indicated they would like these removed.

Your attention to this matter is appreciated and we look forward to your positive response to this request.

Respectfully, I remain
Peter J. Kelly
Mayor

Mayor Peter Kelly
Halifax Regional Municipality
1841 Argyle Street
PO Box 1749
Halifax NS B3J 3A5

Dear Mayor Kelly:

I would like to thank your office for sending me a copy of your September 23, 2004, letter to the Minister of Transportation and Public Works, concerning various concerns raised by residents living near the Bicentennial Highway.

I, and residents of Fairview living near the Bicentennial Highway, appreciate your support, and in particular your support for our attempts to restrict the use of jake brakes on the highway.

The Province has primary responsibility for dealing with BiHi issues, but there are a couple of practical steps that the municipality itself can take. I am hopeful that your interest in this area can spur some action on the part of HRM.

First, I have several times introduced a bill in the Legislature that would give municipal traffic authorities the power to ban the use of jake brakes on a selective basis. (Jake brakes are currently illegal only where the speed limit is 50 km/h or less. There is no statutory authority to ban jake brakes in zones where the speed limit is more than 50 km/h, so any restriction is voluntary.) It would be helpful if HRM indicated to the government that it supports my bill, and that it would, if so empowered, ban the use of jake brakes on the Bicentennial Highway as it passes Fairview.

Second, School Avenue residents have pointed out that a great deal more could be done to beautify this approach to the city. Fairview is where the highway meets the city, and is often the place where visitors get their first look at the city proper. I am hopeful that HRM can take upon itself the task of making this stretch of the Bicentennial Highway an attractive and welcoming gateway to the city.

Yours sincerely,
Graham Steele, MLA
Halifax Fairview

Dear Mr. Steele:

I apologize for the delay in responding to your letter dated November 2, 2004, about the use of jake brakes and School Avenue.

Minister Russell has advised that the placement of "No Engine Brake" signs along the Bicentennial Highway near School Avenue has been approved as a pilot project. I understand that the Transportation and Public Works Department will be installing signs in the near future.

The lands at the entrance to HRM from the Bicentennial Highway fall within provincial jurisdiction, along with many other entrances to our communities in our Region. Unfortunately, because these roads are owned by the Province, we must rely on their initiative in ensuring attractive and welcoming communities.

We would be pleased to work with the Province of Nova Scotia on initiatives to improve our community entrances from provincial highways, subject to budgetary approvals.

Respectfully, I remain
Peter J. Kelly
Mayor