Shannon Park Development Traffic Study
Location: Dartmouth, NS, Canada
Client: Canada Lands Company
Duration: 2016
Key Staff: Michael MacDonald, Robin King, Florence Allaire
Project Description
Back in 2016, Harbourside Transportation Consultants (HTC) was retained by the Canada Lands Company (CLC) to prepare a traffic study for the redevelopment of Shannon Park in Dartmouth, NS. The CLC proposed development included approximately 3,000 residential dwelling units and 145,000 sq. Ft. of neighbourhood type commercial space.
Since our main office is in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Harbourside was already intimately familiar with the area. This made HTC the transportation engineers of choice.
Harbourside’s Role
Although the actual development of Shannon Park has been delayed multiple times, Harbourside completed the traffic study in its usual detailed manner.
Project Initiation. Initial meetings took place with the CLC and the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) to confirm the scope of work, and to obtain any necessary background information on the project.
Review of Site Information. Harbourside reviewed the base information, including topographical information, existing roadways, active transportation, and transit infrastructure. This included a review of collisions in the study area as well.
Stakeholder Interviews. Stakeholder meetings were held with HRM, Halifax Transit, the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, Halifax Harbour Bridges, the Bedford Institute of Oceanography and Canadian National Railway. The purpose of these meetings was to confirm the scope of work with approval agencies and identify future development. The meetings also considered planned changes to the transportation network in the study area.
Data Collection. Harbourside gathered traffic counts at eight (8) intersections in the study area.
Trip Generation, Trip Distribution and Analysis. HTC established the ITE trip generations rates for the proposed Shannon Park development and other developments in the study area. The trips were distributed to the study area using existing traffic patterns. HTC built Synchro/SimTraffic models for the study and completed capacity analyses for the following scenarios:
1. Scenario 0 – Existing Conditions (2016).
2. Scenario 1 – Future 2027 without Development.
3. Scenario 2 – Future 2027 with Shannon Park Development.
4. Scenario 2A – Future 2027 with Shannon Park Development and Improvements.
5. Scenario 3 – Future 2027 with Shannon Park Development and Other Developments.
6. Scenario 4 – Future 2032 Five-year Timeframe after Development.
Network Improvements. Harbourside developed a series of recommendations for the road network improvements required to accommodate the proposed development.
Active Transportation. HRM’s plans for the study area were reviewed and recommendations for Active Transportation infrastructure throughout the development were made.
Transit. Transit routes in the area were reviewed, and recommendations were made to include a bus route throughout the development.
Unique Challenges
Shannon Park has been the subject of much scrutiny over the years. It has sat empty and unused for so long, that public is eager for progress. Reporting and data had to be as thoroughly evaluated as possible to ensure that progress would not be hampered in any way.
Social Impact
The traffic impact study conducted by Harbourside will go a long way in transforming the Shannon Park area into affordable housing. Although actual development was delayed, and then further pushed due to the COVID 19 pandemic, construction is set to begin in summer 2025.