Disclaimer: Legacy Content
The information on this page is derived from Moving Forward Together Plan, approved by Halifax Regional Council in 2016. Minor adjustments to route numbering and route planning have since been made and approved in Halifax Transit Annual Service Plans.
Network Overview
This section describes the transit network in detail, broken down by geographic area and by service type, listing each route which serves those looking to travel to, from, and through a particular area.
4.1 Regional Centre
The Regional Centre is the urban core of the Halifax Regional Municipality, and is composed of the Halifax Peninsula and Dartmouth within the Circumferential Highway. With a total land area of over 33 square kilometres, the Regional Centre is the focus of commerce, business, government, health care, post-secondary education, and cultural and entertainment sectors for not only the Halifax Regional Municipality, but for the entire Atlantic Region.
As there is large transit demand to and throughout the Regional Centre over the course of the day and on evenings and weekends, this area is serviced by a large volume of transit service, including all ten Corridor Routes, 24 Local Routes, 19 Express Routes, and two Ferry Routes.
Corridor Routes Serving the Regional Centre
The Regional Centre is served by all ten Corridor Routes:
1 Spring Garden
2 Clayton Park - Downtown
3 Crosstown
4 Lacewood - Universities
5 Portland
6 Eastern Passage
7 Peninsula
8 Sackville
9 Herring Cove
10 Mic Mac
These Corridor Routes provide a high level of service all day along major streets including Alderney Drive, Portland Street, Victoria Road, Albro Lake Road, Wyse Road, Gottingen Street, Robie Street, Quinpool Road, Windsor Street, Oxford Street, Spring Garden Road, Chebucto Road, North Street, Barrington Street, South Street, South Park Street, and Inglis Street. They provide direct connections to all of the terminals in the Halifax Transit network.
Local Routes Serving the Halifax Peninsula
The Peninsula is served by 10 Local Routes:
24 Leiblin Park
25 Governors Brook
26 Springvale (peak only) 29 Barrington
31 Bayers Lake
50 Dockyard (peak only) 84 Glendale
90 Larry Uteck
91 Hemlock Ravine
93 Bedford Highway (peak only)
These routes provide regular, all day circulation amongst neighbourhoods on the Peninsula, and connect to communities such as Sackville, Mainland South, Bedford, Dartmouth, and Bayers Lake Business Park.
Local Routes Serving Dartmouth
Dartmouth within the Circumferential Highway is served by the following 15 Local Routes:
32 Flamingo
50 Dockyard (peak only) 51 Windmill
53 Highfield – Bridge 54 Montebello
55 Port Wallace
56 Dartmouth Crossing
57 Russell Lake (peak only)
58 Woodlawn
62 Grahams Grove
63 Mount Edward
64 Burnside (weekday only) 67 Baker
72 Portland Hills–Dartmouth Crossing 87 Sackville - Dartmouth
These routes provide direct connections to major employers and regional destinations including Burnside and Dartmouth Crossing, the Woodside Ferry Terminal, Sackville, Clayton Park, and communities within the Regional Centre.
Express Routes
Downtown Halifax is the convergence of most peak-focused services. As a result, there are 19 Express Routes that bring passengers from other parts of the municipality to the downtown during peak commuting periods. These Express Routes are:
123 Timberlea Express
127 Cowie Hill Express
135 Flamingo Express
136 Farnham Gate Express
137 Regency Park Express
138 Parkland Express
158 Woodlawn Express
159 Colby Express
161A Cherry Brook Express
161B Auburn Express
165 Caldwell Express
168 North Preston Express
182 First Lake Express
183 Springfield Express
185 Millwood Express
186 Basinview Express
189 Beaver Bank Express
192 Southgate Express
194 Bedford West Express
196 Starboard Express
These routes provide direct connections to/from many residential neighbourhoods outside of the Regional Centre and provide local drop offs and pickups at regional destinations including large employers, shopping destinations, major terminals and medical centres.
Ferry Routes
The Regional Centre is served by two Ferry Routes
501 Alderney Ferry
502 Woodside Ferry
These Ferry Routes provide direct access from the Halifax Ferry Terminal in Downtown Halifax to Downtown Dartmouth via the Alderney Ferry Terminal, and to Woodside via the Woodside Ferry Terminal.
4.2 Mainland South
Mainland South includes the communities of Armdale, Spryfield, and Herring Cove, and is serviced by one Corridor Route, four Local Routes, one Express Route, and one Rural Route..
Corridor Routes
Mainland South is served by the following Corridor Route: 9 Herring Cove
This Corridor Route provides all day, frequent service along the Herring Cove Road corridor, providing a direct connection to downtown Halifax via Mumford Terminal and Quinpool Road.
Local Routes
Mainland South is served by four Local Routes:
22 Armdale
24 Leiblin Park
25 Governors Brook
26 Springvale (peak only)
The Routes 22, 24 and 25 provide regular, all day circulation amongst area neighbourhoods, and take users to local destinations such as Spryfield Shopping Centre (formerly known as the South Centre Mall), and regional destinations such as universities and hospitals. The Route 26 is a peak-only route that connects the community of Springvale with the Mumford Terminal, where passengers can transfer to/from other routes to reach their destination.
Express Routes
Mainland South is served by one Express Route: 127 Cowie Hill Express
This route provides an express connection to Downtown Halifax and the hospitals during peak periods.
Rural Routes
Mainland South is served by one Rural Route: 415 Purcells Cove
This route provides peak only service from Purcells Cove and Fergusons Cove to Mumford Terminal and Bayers Road.
4.3 Mainland North
Mainland North, including the communities of Fairview, Clayton Park, Bayers Lake, Beechville, Lakeside, and Timberlea, will be serviced by four Corridor Routes, seven Local Routes, and five Express Routes.
Corridor Routes
Mainland North is served by four Corridor Routes:
2 Clayton Park - Downtown
3 Crosstown
4 Lacewood - Universities
8 Sackville
These Corridor Routes are intended to provide all day service along the Bedford Highway, Lacewood Drive, Willet Street, Main Avenue, Joseph Howe Drive and Bayers Road. They provide direct connections to most Halifax Transit terminals as well as Downtown Halifax. Two travel into Downtown servicing Scotia Square and Water Street Terminal, one travels to Dalhousie and one travels across the MacDonald Bridge to the Bridge Terminal and beyond to Highfield Terminal and Burnside.
Local Routes
Mainland North is served by seven Local Routes:
21 Timberlea
31 Bayers Lake
32 Flamingo
34 Parkland - Dunbrack
90 Larry Uteck
91 Hemlock Ravine
93 Bedford Highway (peak only)
These routes provide regular, all day circulation within Mainland North, and connections to local amenities, adjacent communities and regional destinations including the Halifax Shopping Centre. The Route 93 provides peak only local service into Downtown Halifax.
Express Routes
Mainland North is served by five Express Routes:
123 Timberlea Express
135 Flamingo Express
136Farnham Gate Express
137 Regency Park Express
138 Parkland Express
These Express Routes provide an express connection to Downtown Halifax and the hospitals during peak periods.
4.4 Bedford
Bedford is served by one Corridor Route, four Local Routes, and four Express Routes.
Corridor Routes
The community of Bedford is served by one Corridor Route: 8 Sackville
This Corridor Route provides regular all day service along the Bedford Highway, connecting Downtown Halifax with Sackville and Bedford.
Local Routes
Bedford is served by four Local Routes:
87 Dartmouth
90 Larry Uteck
91 Hemlock Ravine
93 Bedford Highway (peak only)
These Local Routes provide direct connections to Mumford Terminal, Sackville, Burnside, Dartmouth, and Hammonds Plains Road. They also allow opportunities for transfers at Sackville Terminal, Wrights Cove Terminal, Bridge Terminal, Highfield Terminal, and Mumford Terminal. The Route 93 provides peak only local service into Downtown Halifax.
Express Routes
Bedford is served by five Express Routes:
182 First Lake Express
186 Basinview Express
192 Southgate Express
194 Bedford West Express
196 Starboard Express
All five Express Routes provide direct, express, peak hour service to Downtown Halifax. Routes 186, 192, 194, and 196 provide express service originating in Bedford and travelling directly into Halifax, whereas the Route 182 originates in Sackville, provides service along the Bedford Highway and Dartmouth Road, and expresses via Magazine Hill, and the MacKay Bridge to Halifax.
4.5 Sackville
Sackville is served by one Corridor Route, seven Local Routes and four Express Routes.
Corridor Routes
The community of Sackville is served by one Corridor Route: 8 Sackville
This Corridor Route provides regular all day service along Sackville Drive, connecting Sackville with the Bedford Highway and Downtown Halifax..
Local Routes
Sackville is served by seven Local Routes. Those marked with an asterisk are replaced by Express Routes during peak periods in order to provide express service into and out of Downtown Halifax:
82 First Lake*
83 Springfield*
84 Glendale
85 Millwood*
87 Dartmouth
88 Bedford Common
89 Beaver Bank5*
These Local Routes provide direct connections to/from Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford Commons, and the communities of Springfield Lake, Millwood, and Beaver Bank. They also allow opportunities for transfers at Cobequid Terminal, Sackville Terminal, Wrights Cove Terminal, Highfield Terminal, and Bridge Terminal.
Express Routes
Sackville is served by four Express Routes, which replace routes 82 First Lake, 83 Springfield, 85 Millwood, and 89 Beaver Bank during peak periods:
182 First Lake Express
183 Springfield Express
185 Millwood Express
189 Beaver Bank Express
These four routes provide an express connection to Downtown Halifax and the hospitals during peak periods.
4.6 Burnside & Dartmouth Crossing
Burnside and Dartmouth Crossing are served by one Corridor Route, six Local Routes, and four Express Routes:
Corridor Routes
Burnside Business Park is served by one Corridor Route: 3 Crosstown
This Corridor Route provides regular all day service from Lacewood Terminal through Mumford, Bridge and Highfield Terminals before entering the Burnside Business Park and terminating at the new Wrights Cove Terminal.
Local Routes
Burnside and Dartmouth Crossing are served by the following six Local Routes
51 Windmill (peak only)
56 Dartmouth Crossing
64 Burnside
72 Dartmouth Crosstown
84 Glendale
87 Sackville - Dartmouth
These Local Routes provide direct connections to the Bridge Terminal, Mic Mac Terminal, Highfield Terminal, and Wrights Cove Terminal as well as the communities of Sackville, North Dartmouth, Crichton Park, and Cole Harbour. Additionally, the Route 51 Windmill provides a peak period extension to Wrights Cove Terminal.
Express Routes
Wrights Cove Terminal is served by the following routes during peak periods. It is important to note that while none of these routes will circulate through Burnside, they will all service the Wrights Cove Terminal, stopping either in the terminal, or at a stop along Windmill Road, allowing passengers to transfer to or from a Local or Corridor route:
182 First Lake Express
183 Springfield Express
185 Millwood Express
189 Beaver Bank
4.7 Dartmouth, Woodside, Woodlawn, Eastern Passage, Cole Harbour, Cherry Brook, Lake Loon, Westphal, and North Preston
The communities outside of the Circumferential Highway in Dartmouth, including Dartmouth, Woodlawn, Woodside, Eastern Passage, Cole Harbour, Cherry Brook, Lake Loon, Westphal, and North Preston are served by three Corridor Routes, 11 Local Routes, seven Express Routes, and one Ferry Route.
Corridor Routes
This area is served by three Corridor Routes
5 Portland
6 Woodside
10 Micmac
Corridor Routes provide regular all day connections between Dartmouth and, the Halifax Peninsula, Cole Harbour, Woodside, and Eastern Passage.
Local Routes
These communities are served by the following 11 Local Routes. Those marked with an asterisk are replaced by Express Routes during peak periods in order to provide express service into and out of Downtown Halifax:
54 Montebello
55 Port Wallace
57 Russell Lake (peak only)
58 Woodlawn*
59 Colby*
61 Cherry Brook*
63 Mount Edward
65 Caldwell*
67 Baker
68 North Preston*
72 Portland Hills–Dartmouth Crossing
These routes provide circulation within the communities they serve, and make connections at major terminals such as Mic Mac Terminal, Woodside Ferry Terminal, Highfield Terminal, Penhorn Terminal, and Portland Hills Terminal.
Express Routes
Cole Harbour, Woodlawn, North Preston, and Cherry Brook are served by five Express Routes into Downtown Halifax. They are:
158 Woodlawn Express
159 Colby Express
161 Cherry Brook/Auburn Express
165 Caldwell Express
168 North Preston Express
These Express Routes replace Local Routes 58 Woodlawn, 59 Colby, 61 Cherry Brook, 65 Caldwell, and
68 North Preston respectively during peak periods, providing direct service to and from Downtown Halifax.
Two additional Express Routes also operate in Cole Harbour. These are:
178 Mount Edward to Ferry Express
179 Cole Harbour to Ferry Express These routes provide an express connection to the Woodside Ferry Terminal during peak periods.
Ferry Routes
Woodside is served by one Ferry Route: 502 Woodside Ferry
This Ferry Route provides a direct connection to Downtown Halifax via the Halifax Ferry Terminal.
Alderney Ferry Terminal
4.8 Service outside the Urban Transit Service Boundary
Porters Lake, Lake Echo & East Preston
The communities of Porters Lake, Lake Echo, and East Preston will be served by one Rural Route and one Regional Express:
401 Porters Lake
370 Porters Lake Regional Express
Rural Route 401 Porters Lake provides service from the Porters Lake Park & Ride and Lakeview Shopping Centre to the Portland Hills Terminal on weekdays only.
The Route 370 Porters Lake Regional Express provides limited stop commuter service between the Porters Lake Park & Ride and Downtown Halifax. It will not provide service to Lake Echo or East Preston.
Purcells Cove & Fergusons Cove
The communities of Fergusons Cove and Purcells Cove will be served by one Rural Route: 415 Purcells Cove. This route provides service between the Bayers Road Terminal, Mumford Terminal, and York Redoubt via Purcells Cove Road. This route will provide weekday peak only service.
Tantallon/Sheldrake Lake
The community of Tantallon will be served by one Rural Route and one Regional Express:
433 Tantallon
330 Tantallon/ Sheldrake Lake Regional Express
The Rural Route 433 Tantallon will provide a peak only, weekday service between Tantallon and Lacewood Terminal, making local stops along Hammonds Plains Road, Bluewater Road, and Kearney Lake Road.
The Route 330 Tantallon/Sheldrake Lake Regional Express provides limited stop commuter service between the Tantallon Park & Ride, Sheldrake Lake Park & Ride and Downtown Halifax.
Fall River/Airport
Fall River and the Halifax Stanfield International Airport are serviced by one Regional Express: 320 Airport/Fall River Regional Express
This route provides all day service, seven days per week. The route 320 Airport/Fall River Regional Express provides limited stop service between Downtown Halifax, Dartmouth, and the Aerotech Business Park. Between the Aerotech Business Park and Halifax Stanfield International Airport, several local stops are also serviced to provide connections for Business Park employees.
Middle Sackville
The portion of Middle Sackville outside of the Urban Transit Service Boundary is served by one Local Route, one Express Route, and one Regional Express.
83 Springfield
183 Springfield Express
310 Middle Sackville Regional Express
The Route 83 Springfield will provide local service seven days a week, connecting Springfield Avenue to Sackville Terminal via Sackville Drive, Margeson Drive, Hanwell Dive, Melham Drive, and Old Sackville Road. The Route 183 Springfield Express replaces the Route 83 at rush hour, providing limited stop service from Sackville Terminal to Downtown Halifax.
The Route 310 Middle Sackville Regional Express will serve a Park & Ride lot to be built off of Margeson Drive near Highway 101, Exit 2A. This route will provide a limited stop, commuter focused service.