Sidewalks in Rural Community Centres

The following set of criteria was developed to help staff create the list of the seventeen communities to be selected for prioritization for implementation:

• Land Use Planning
• Destinations
• Existing Infrastructure
• Population Density
• Canadian Index of Multiple Deprivation
• Traffic Data
• Community Input Data
• Usership  Data

Further criteria approved by Regional Council was applied to prioritize five communities which are now being assessed for implementation of an area rate to fund new sidewalks. 

• Create Connections: Opportunity to connect to local active transportation facilities, and/or regional facilities or transit.
• Improve Safety: Relatively high number of vehicles use the main street daily.
• Foster Equity: Relatively high score on the Canadian Index of Multiple Deprivation (CIMD).
• Community Momentum: Community has an AT Plan (or community plan that addresses AT), and an active and engaged community group.
• Cost Effectiveness: Opportunity to integrate project with other projects, and/or receive funding or cost sharing from other levels of government.
• Economic Opportunity: Community has a “mainstreet” area.
• Shift Mode Share: Relatively high number of residents already walking or cycling in the community daily.

Area Rate

On February 7, 2023 the Regional Council adopted the Administrative Order Number 2022-008-ADM Respecting the Implementation of Area Rates to Fund Sidewalks Outside of the Urban Tax Area in the Halifax Regional Municipality to direct the implementation of the AT Rural Program. 
The AO 2022-008-ADM outlines how communities become eligible for an area-rated sidewalk, the amount of area rate to be applied to each property, permitted and prohibited uses of area rate revenue, how staff will engage and communicate with the community throughout the implementation process, and the decision-making process for enacting the new rate. 

The AO 2022-008-ADM establishes the area rate, a formal process for the implementation of area rates and the method to determine area rate geographic boundaries. 

The area rates in communities receiving a sidewalk will have an area tax rate added to their property taxes which will represent the difference between the urban and rural residential general tax rates ($33 per $100,000 of taxable (capped) property value assessment). 
The table below outlines some examples of what a property owner could expect to pay annually based on the assessed property value.

Example of Area Rate Amount Applied Based on Assessed Property Value:

Area rate increases would be applied to all residential, resource and commercial properties located in the community boundary of the candidate rural community approved by Regional Council in the fiscal year following substantial completion of the infrastructure. 

Access more information on the HRM Tax Policy.

Community Area Rate Boundary

The AO 2022-008-ADM specifies that the boundary for the area rate will be the community area, but that it could extend into neighbouring rural communities if they are deemed to benefit from the implementation of the sidewalk.  The inclusion of neighbouring communities would be considered in cases, for example, if the destinations in the community with the sidewalk were used by residents from other communities (e.g., large grocery stores, regional public services, schools, etc.). Regional Council will approve the final community boundary.

The Administrative Order identifies criteria to consider when extending the area rate boundary outside of the community boundary.  The criteria and how they are to be considered are described below.

• Community and stakeholder engagement: Members in the community can review proposed community boundaries and express their support or voice their concerns during online/ paper surveys and in-person meetings. 
• Travel patterns as determined by travel monitoring data: This criterion is intended to help understand if areas outside of the community boundary would benefit from the new sidewalk or multi-use pathway.  This would most likely be in rural communities with destinations such as shopping or services.  
• School catchment boundaries: This is a factor in determining the boundary as some of the main streets are connectors to schools and facilities used by schools. 
• Concentration and use of community amenities: The destinations on the Main Streets are used by residents living within the community area boundaries identified.

These criteria allow staff to use a combination of feedback from rural residents and stakeholders, and data analysis to create area rate boundaries specific to each rural candidate community prioritized to receive a sidewalk. The boundary is at minimum including the official community boundary where the sidewalk is being constructed but it could be expanded to include nearby communities if they are deemed to benefit from the addition of the AT facilities as well.

This phase of the project is scheduled to start after Regional Council approves the staff report recommending the rural communities prioritized for new sidewalk infrastructure. 

Planning in each community will help determine the extent of the sidewalk, the type, amenities and other features. During this phase residents and property owners will have an opportunity to provide feedback during public engagement sessions in their respective communities.

Upon completion of planning and consultation in communities to determine the location and type of new sidewalks, the projects will undergo detail design, capital budget submission for construction projects along with cost sharing opportunities, and tendering. 

The goal is to complete construction of the five new sidewalks approved in the rural centres by 2032.