**** HRM Media Release
Storm impacts on municipal services
The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents of the following updates and impacts to municipal services as a result of the weather event:
Update on snow clearing operations
Operations are active in all areas. Surfaces are snow covered and winter conditions, including blowing snow, are present. For further information and updates, visit halifax.ca/snow.
Impact of COVID-19 on municipal service standards
Due to resourcing challenges as a result of the impacts of COVID-19, including employee exposures and provincially mandated self-isolation and testing requirements, service standards are expected to be impacted. This includes Halifax Transit, solid waste collection, some recreation centres and other municipal operations. For the most up-to-date information on municipal impacts as a result of COVID-19, visit halifax.ca.
Halifax Transit
Halifax Transit bus and Access-A-Bus have paused service due to the weather conditions. Halifax Transit is actively monitoring the situation and will resume service as soon as it is safe to do so.
For the most up-to-date information on service disruptions, residents can visit halifax.ca or follow @hfxtransit and @hfxtransitalert on Twitter.
Parks and Recreation
Many municipal recreation facilities will be closed until Sunday, January 30, 2022. A decision will be made on Sunday at 8 a.m. (with potential re-opening at 10 a.m.) regarding whether rentals/facilities/programming activities will continue as scheduled. Please call your local Recreation Centre for further information.
Solid Waste
The Otter Lake Landfill Facility and the refuse depots located in Sheet Harbour and Middle Musquodoboit have closed for the day.
The Household Special Waste Depot at 20 Horseshoe Lake Drive is closed today and will reopen on Saturday, Feb. 5.
Overnight winter parking ban
Residents are reminded that the overnight winter parking ban is in effect annually from December 15 through March 31. When activated during declared weather events and snow removal operations, the ban is enforced from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Vehicles must be off municipal streets during the hours noted above. Given current public health directives, residents are also reminded that even if isolating, they are responsible to make arrangements to move their vehicle(s) off municipal streets to allow for snow removal.
This winter season, the municipality is implementing two zones for the overnight parking ban: Zone 1 – Central and Zone 2 – Non-Central:
- Zone 1 – Central refers to the Halifax Peninsula and downtown Dartmouth within Highway 111 (the Circumferential Highway) and some surrounding areas
- Zone 2 – Non-Central is a designated area outside of Zone 1 – Central
The change to two zones improves service delivery by leveraging overnight winter parking bans that can accommodate more targeted snow removal. Residents are able to determine what zone they’re in by searching their address using the interactive tool available here.
Overnight winter parking bans are communicated via public service announcements, hfxALERT, halifax.ca and @hfxgov on Twitter. Residents who are signed up for hfxALERT will continue to receive notifications for all overnight winter parking ban scenarios.
Note: Regardless of the status of an overnight winter parking ban, or whether you have received a notification, vehicles can be towed, day or night, at any time of year, if they are interfering with snow-clearing operations, as per Section 139 of the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act.
Support for those experiencing homelessness
The municipality is supporting the Province of Nova Scotia to provide temporary emergency shelter to occupants of homeless encampments in the region.
An emergency shelter was opened last night and will remain open overnight tonight. Those at the shelter will be provided with comfort kits and food.
St. Matthew’s Church will continue to operate as a warming centre until Monday..
Stay informed
Residents are urged to sign-up for hfxALERT, the municipality’s mass notification system. Subscribers will receive alerts by phone, email or text. Sign up at halifax.ca/hfxalert.
Residents can also call 311 for updated information on municipal services, or to report issues such as flooding, downed trees or blocked roadways. For emergencies, residents should call 911.
Residents are encouraged to visit halifax.ca/snow or follow @hfxgov on Twitter for updates and information during a weather event.
