About Us 

1M+

Nova Scotia archived a major milestone in 2021 – the province surpassed a population of one million people, following a period of record growth. 

63%

Over 63% of the population of Nova Scotia live within the Regional Transportation Plan study area.  

26%

Between 2016 and 2021 Halifax’s downtown core increased in population by 26%.

Halifax and surrounding communities have been growing at a rapid pace recently, growing 4.5% from 2021-2022. This pace of growth has exceeded even the most optimistic population growth rates and represents some of the most significant growth in Canadian municipalities.  

Population and economic growth are key priorities for the province. The Government of Nova Scotia has identified a target to double the province’s population to two million people by 2060, with much of that growth expected in Halifax and the surrounding communities. Planning for such growth requires collaboration across all levels of government, businesses, communities, and interest groups and a long-term strategy to ensure the region’s transportation system can support this in a sustainable and resilient manner.   

Halifax is the main service and economic hub of the province and a critical connection in the region’s transportation system. As a port city, Halifax also functions as an important gateway and regional trade corridor for freight travelling by sea, air, and ground. The region includes transportation infrastructure and services under the jurisdiction of all levels of government, managed by different organizations and agencies. This creates both challenges and opportunities for planning and developing a coordinated regional transportation system.  

To address the challenges associated with a multi-jurisdictional transportation system, the Government of Nova Scotia passed Bill No. 61 in the fall of 2021 to establish the Joint Regional Transportation Agency (JRTA).