Sustainable Transportation Strategy

The Challenge

Transportation enables us to do the activities we need and want to do. It is essential to our quality of life, economic progress, and overall health. But our current patterns of transportation and land use development, designed around the personal vehicle, are creating problems for our health and environment – and our pocket books.

Driving is increasingly expensive as the price of gasoline rises. Physical fitness has suffered, as people drive more and exercise less. Some people cannot own
or drive a car, yet may have few other transport options. The transportation system also produces 25% of the province’s overall greenhouse gas emissions and accounts for 37% of our energy demand. To meet our provincial greenhouse gas reduction targets, we need to tackle transportation emissions.

The Opportunity

Sustainable transportation is one way of addressing these interrelated challenges. It includes:

• walking, biking, public transit, and community transit
• community design
• cleaner vehicle technologies and cleaner renewable fuels
• energy conservation and efficiency options including carsharing and telecommuting

Sustainable transportation has many benefits, such as:

• More affordable transportation options
• More transportation options in rural areas
• More vibrant, walkable communities.
• Reduced traffic congestion
• Improved health outcomes and reduced health care costs resulting from higher levels of physical activity
• Reduced greenhouse gases and better air quality from reduced emissions

The Strategy

Nova Scotia’s Sustainable Transportation Strategy is about providing all Nova Scotians with accessible, affordable, safe and convenient choices that support our personal and environmental well-being. The Strategy is based on four guiding principles.

• Drive less distance
• Move more efficiently and use cleaner energy
• Provide access to essential services and employment
• Engage with communities in designing solutions

Key elements of the strategy are:

• Leadership
• Community engagement
• Active Transportation
• Public and Community Transit
• Urban and Rural Planning
• Vehicles and Fleets
• Tracking Progress

This strategy is linked to other provincial initiatives to improve physical health, tackle climate change, promote road safety and support positive aging.