Pedestrianizing Norma Eddy Lane: An Analysis of Transport Mode and Safety

Abstract

This study examines the numerical distribution of users of the north end of Norma Eddy Lane by travel mode. The site, located on the north end of the Dalhousie University Sexton Campus, in between the Ralph M. Medjuck building and the Halifax Central Library, currently serves as a small parking lot and loading zone, primarily servicing the Medjuck building. The site is also in close proximity to Halifax Metro Transit bus stop #8327. Beginning with a suggestion from the Dalhousie Office of Sustainability, the study sought to examine the modal split of users of the corridor in order to determine whether the current land use, infrastructure and physical features were suitable for users. Presently, the site consists of 7 parking stalls and a series of concrete dividers which separate the paved and non-permeable portions of the site. There is no dedicated walking or cycling path that runs the entire length of the subject area. The study found that over 3119 pedestrians passed through the subject area over the course of 24 total hours of data collection, with each 2-hour shift averaging 260 pedestrians, while vehicle capacity never exceeded 5 of the 7 available stalls, with very little deviation on which cars were parked, peaking at 2 cars in a half hour. Cycling as a mode made up a small portion of the total split, with 28 total cyclists passing through the corridor during the data collection process. Many incidents were observed throughout the data collection process which all included vehicles in some manner, with vehicles disrupting walking paths or having near-misses with pedestrians being the majority of those recorded. Given these results the study found that the current land uses of the site do not properly accommodate most of its usership and do not ensure their safety while traversing the site. The study provides recommendations for redevelopment or redesign as well as for further research into the subject.