Multi-Use Trails: An Investment in Active Transportation

In July of 2021 the Town of Yarmouth, the federal government, and the province of Nova Scotia announced a $2.36 million investment in multi-use trails. This funding allows for completion of a series of multi-use trails/sidewalks, adding to trails already built. These shared paths will be fully accessible and will accommodate pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The trails will also offer pedestrian access in areas where no sidewalks were previously available. Multi-use trails are a key component of the town's Active Transportation Master Plan developed in 2010. (See documents section to the upper right).

The new trails will benefit high school students who walk on the west side of Haley Road to get to Starrs Road during their lunch hour, providing added safety. Seniors and other residents living on Haley Road who wish to walk to Starrs Road (Commercial Hub) will experience the benefit of exercise within proximity to their residence.

Connecting the "Four Corners"

The core of the Town of Yarmouth is identified by the four corners of Haley Road/Starrs Road, Starrs Road/Main Street, Main Street/Argyle Street and Argyle Street/Haley Road in the South East corner of the Town of Yarmouth (please see the map called "Sidewalks & Multi-use Trails July 2021.pdf" in the documents section to the right). The aim of this project is to further connect these corners and provide accessible trails for pedestrians and cyclists that make it easier to move around in Yarmouth's downtown core.

A Multi-Phased Approach

The trails planned for this project will be completed in 7 phases. The intent of phases 1-4 is to complete the Haley Road side of the active transportaiton infrastructure. In order to facilitate the proper north-south connection from Argyle to Starrs, the project will see a rebuild of the Starrs/Haley intersection, including replacement of the traffic lights, and and extension of the concrete sidewalk on the north side of Starrs up to the Starrs Road/Haley Road intersection.

Future phases will also see multiuse trails added on the south side of Starrs road. This will allow all potential trail users to continue into the downtown core via sidewalk or multi-use trail from the Haley Road/Starrs Road intersection.

Phase 1 of this initiative was completed in the fall of 2020 with the addition of asphalt trail between Forest Street and Parade Street on Haley Road.

PHASE 2

Completed Fall of 2021. Asphalt multi-use trail between Starrs Road and Parade Street on Haley Road. This adds a northward extension to the Phase 1 multi-use trail. A four-way stop and a 6 inch curb will be added at the Parade Street/Haley Road intersection. A sidewalk extension will also be added on the north side of Starrs Road connecting existing sidewalk to the intersection.

PHASE 3

Completed Fall of 2021. This phase adds an extension of the trail from Haley Road westward down Forest Street, connecting to existing sidewalk in front of the high school.

PHASE 4

Completed in the summer of 2022. This phase will see asphalt multi-use trail between Forest Street and Argyle Street on Haley Road. This will extend the trail south and connect a number of residents on Haley Road to the trail system. This work is planned for completion in 2022. (Note: the trail will be installed on the east side of Haley Road for this portion).

PHASE 5

Rebuild of the intersection at Haley Road and Starrs Road. This will include upgrading the traffic lights and concrete islands and the addition of sidewalk on Starrs Road. This work will be completed in the fall of 2022.

PHASES 6 & 7

Asphalt multi-use trail connecting Haley Road to Pleasant Street on Starrs Road. Work for this phase is set for 2024.

PHASE 8

Phase 8 involves adding a connecting trail on Parade Street, between Haley Road and Jody Shelley Drive. This phase is set to be completed in 2023.