2705 Fern Lane · Halifax · Nova Scotia · Canada · B3K 4L3

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—February 13, 2009

Minister’s Environmental Logic Baffling

“Claiming that increased road capacity is good for the environment is baffling,” said Jen
Powley, a Sustainable Transportation Coordinator with the Ecology Action Centre (EAC).

Powley’s response followed comments by Nova Scotia Energy Minister Barry Barnet as
quoted in the Chronicle-Herald on February 13, 2009. In the article, Minister Barnet stated
that “improving the traffic system can be beneficial to the environment by reducing the
number of cars that are idling and in some cases, shortening the distances from point A to
B.”1 Minister Barnet seems to misunderstand what long-term plans are actually needed to
alleviate traffic congestion in HRM. Barnet’s comments followed a public meeting held
February 11, 2009 on a report jointly commissioned by the province and HRM on the
feasibility of widening Bayers Road and Highways 102 as well as 107. The study assumes an
increased traffic demand due to growth in Bedford and Sackville.

Todd Litman recounts in his study Generated Traffic and Induced Travel that additional road
capacity is usually filled with traffic within five years. Litman argues that the capacity is not
filled because of an existing need—he states that the increased capacity actually
encourages people, who might otherwise use alternative modes, to use the newly expanded
roadway. Put more plainly, building or expanding roads are ineffective and
counterproductive since road construction can make driving more attractive and encourage
road use.

“Though reducing the amount of time vehicles spend idling because they are stuck in traffic
is admirable, the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by the increased traffic will be
more than offset by any savings from idling,” said Powley. Instead, what is needed is greater
investment made to public transit with new buses. Of course, beyond more buses, there is a
need to create priority measures for public transit on key routes, such as Bayers Road, while
working with HRM to improve efficiency with transit, namely timing and routes.

Laena Garrison, a Sustainable Transportation Coordinator at the EAC, questions whether

there has been a calculation of the total emissions that would be created if the project were
to be completed. Garrison argues, “Aggressive investments in sustainable transportation,
such as transit, carpooling promotion, vanpooling service, and rail are needed for long-term
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Building new highways and expanding existing
highways and arterial routes is not the answer.” The results of EAC’s public consultations for
its Green Mobility Strategy revealed that people across Nova Scotia want the province to
invest more money into building viable sustainable transportation options. Currently, Nova
Scotia invests less than 1% of the NS highways budget into transit and active transportation
infrastructure.

Evidence on the environmental impact of highway construction and maintenance also seems
to contradict Barnet’s stance. Based on a report produced by the Siteline Institute, Friends
of the Earth a US Environmental organization concluded that “building 10 miles of four-lane
1
The Chronicle Herald. (February 13, 2009). “Barnet: Wider Bayers Road is good for environment”. Retrieved from
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/1106202.html on February 13, 2009.

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highway is like putting 46,700 Hummers on the road”2

For additional information, please contact Jen Powley or Laena Garrison at the Ecology Action
Center: 429-0924 or at home (425-8363) and (446-8832)

2
Friends of the Earth. “Road to Nowhere: New Roads=New Pollution”. Retrieved from http://www.foe.org/economic_stimulus/climate-
impacts.html on February 13, 2009.

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