**** HRM Media Release
Storm impact on municipal services – Jan. 7, 3 p.m.
The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents of the following updates and impacts to municipal services as a result of the current weather event.
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, snow clearing efforts, 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.
Solid Waste
Curbside collection of Christmas trees, recycling and garbage will continue as scheduled.
Green cart collection has been cancelled for Friday, Jan. 7 in the following areas:
- Halifax
- Sackville
- Fall River
- Waverley
- Cole Harbour
- Westphal
- Cherry Brook
Green cart collection services in these areas will be provided on Friday, Jan. 21.
For more information, please call 311 or visit halifax.ca/recycle. To receive notifications, including potential service disruptions, please download Halifax Recycles app.
Halifax Transit
Halifax Transit anticipates conventional bus service and ferry service will continue to be impacted over the coming weeks.
For the most up-to-date information on cancellations, service disruptions and to find out if your preferred route is on snow plan, follow @hfxtransitalert on Twitter, visit halifax,ca/transit or call 311. Check your route’s snow plan route here.
Parks and Recreation
Many recreation facilities have closed at 2 p.m. for the remainder of the day. A decision will be made tomorrow morning (with potential regularly scheduled re-opening) regarding whether rentals/facilities/programming activities will continue as scheduled. Please call your local Recreation Centre for further information.
The Halifax Public Gardens will be closed tomorrow morning.
Overnight winter parking ban
The overnight winter parking ban will be enforced on Saturday, Jan. 8 from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. (in both Zone 1 – Central and Zone 2 – Non-Central), to allow crews to properly clear streets and sidewalks.
Residents are able to determine which zone they’re in by searching their address using the interactive tool available here,
Vehicles must be off municipal streets during the hours noted above. Given current public health directives, residents are reminded that even if isolating, they are responsible to make arrangements to move their vehicle off municipal streets in advance of the storm.
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 collaborating with the Province of Nova Scotia, professional service providers and community-based agencies to provide temporary emergency shelters, to occupants of homeless encampments in the region.
An emergency shelter will be open overnight on Friday and Saturday night. Those at the shelter will be provided with comfort kits and food.
Ground Search & Rescue will be visiting all locations where the municipality is aware of occupants of homeless encampments, to offer transportation to these facilities.
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.
