At the September 10, 2024 meeting of Halifax Regional Council, they considered a resolution to borrow $344 million dollars to finance various capital spending.
A provincial constraint on such borrowing is that it must be for projects whose benefit to the community lasts for more than 10 years. And yet, it included $41 million in spending on roads which we know deteriorate faster than that.
In contrast, the borrowing was not used to finance any acceleration of cycling infrastructure. Such building lasts more than ten years since the weights of bicycles and mobility devices impose very little wear and tear on the pavement.
I wrote a letter to Council asking about this discrepancy with the stated strategic priority of supporting active transportation.
The resolution passed as part of the consent agenda i.e. without any discussion.
