Byung Jun: Halifax Regional Municipality issued a tender to install a stoplet on May 7th.
Byung Jun: It was awarded to Schooner Contracting for just under a $90,000.
Byung Jun: That’s a lot of money, and it’s right in the heart of downtown, so it must be an important project, right?
Byung Jun: But wait on a second...what is a stoplet?
Byung Jun: A stoplet is a combination of the word "parklet" and“bus stop".
Byung Jun: I get what a bus stop is, but what is a parklet? Ughhh, can you stop with the planning jargons?
Byung Jun: A parklet is a temporary structure that usually replaces a few parking spaces to create more room for pedestrians.
Byung Jun: I guess you can call it as a mini-park or extended sidewalk...
Byung Jun: But hold on a second...
Byung Jun: A parklet is a temporary structure that usually replaces a few parking spaces...
Byung Jun: ...parking spaces...
Byung Jun: ...PARKING SPACES...
Byung Jun: Hmmm... Megan: But that's okay!
The project is taking place on Spring Garden Road between Birmingham Street and Dresden Row
So there's no parking anyway.
The street will lose a portion of a loading zone close to Birmingham Street, but public parking will not be affected.
This pilot project is just the first step in what will be the next big streetscaping project on HRM's list,
now that they have completed the huge redesign project on Argyle and Grafton Streets.
This "Stoplet Pilot Project" - say that five times fast
Will be a scaled-down version of the HRM's plan for Spring Garden Road in the future, letting them test out possible ideas for the street,
...including wider sidewalks for pedestrians and transit, and amenities such as benches.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation,
having wide, curbed sidewalks can reduce the amount of pedestrian-vehicle accidents and make accidents that do happen less lethal.
So the use of parklets on busy streets can help make pedestrians feel safer
while providing amenities like seating and shade.
In theory, having a stoplet instead of a traditional bus stop will make buses more efficient
by reducing the amount of time they need to pull out of traffic, load passengers, and merge back into the lane.
Some feel that the time saved by the stoplet will be negligible, but the stoplet will at least serve as a more comfortable place to wait for the bus.
These stoplets can increase options for those who can't drive a car, making getting around the city a little bit easier for everyone.
Megan: But it's not all sunshine and public seating - parklets do require some considerations.
It's recommended that they be removed in winters so that snowplows don't hit them,
and parklets have to be heavy enough that they can't be stolen in the middle of the night.
Megan: Members of the public may also be confused about whether or not parklets are public spaces when located in front of businesses.
Megan: Questions like, "do I need to buy a coffee to sit here?"
or "can I sit here if my bus doesn’t come for another hour?" have been raised around parklets that sit right outside of cafes.
To counteract these concerns, some cities have implemented a strong policy prohibiting advertising, table service,
and other commercial activities within parklets, even if sponsored by a nearby business.
The municipality and the Spring Garden Area Business Association
will also have staff visiting the stoplet through the summer to make sure everyone's concerns are addressed.
Megan: But that's about all the downsides I can come up with...or is it?
Byung Jun: Well Megan, in San Francisco, businesses were actually worried about the installation of parklets.
Byung Jun: They were worried that this new space would take away parking spaces and decrease foot traffic into their stores, resulting in less profit.
To get to the bottom of this, a 2011 study on the Polk Street parklets found that the parklets generated an economic benefit to surrounding businesses.
The study indicated an increase in foot traffic of up to 37%
and an increase in the number of people stopping and sitting on the street by 30%.
One cafe even saw a 30% increase in revenue
So, there is some evidence that parklets can help neighbourhood businesses, simply by being there and being an interesting feature on the street.
Byung Jun: BUT - It's important to remember that Halifax ISN'T San Francisco
and what works for one city may not always be perfect for another.
Megan: Ultimately, businesses and residents in the area will have to decide for themselves whether or not they feel the stoplet improves the street.
Megan: But if you ask why HRM only installed a stoplet on Spring Garden Road, it's not because they think it's going to make everything better.
Megan: It’s a conversation starter, and a way to test out these ideas without making them permanent.
Byung Jun: Right, so picture this widened sidewalk with funky design all the way from the Central Library to the Public Garden.
Byung Jun: But it's only gonna be here until this October,
Byung Jun: but the municipality wants to hear back from you! Because if they really like it, they might bring it back in the future,
Byung Jun: Because the stoplet is designed to be disassembled and reassembled back again whenever they want.
Byung Jun: So to share your experience and thoughts, check out their survey at shapeyourcityhalifax.ca
Byung Jun: So swing by this summer, and try it out for yourself...speaking of trying it out...?