Halifax Transit route 52 'Crosstown'

52 Crosstown
Discontinued Route
Created	1980 Revised 2003,2011
Discontinued	2017
Length (one-way)	31 km off-peak
Types of Buses Used	New Flyer D40LF Nova Bus LFS Artic New Flyer DE60LFR
Frequencies
Mid-day/Evening	30 min.
Peak periods	15 min.
Late-night	60 min.
Saturday	30 min.
Sunday	30 min.

Halifax Transit route 52 'Crosstown', originally the 52 Ilsley (and 52 Industrial Park before that) until 2003, used to provide crosstown service between the Burnside Industrial Park in north-end Dartmouth, and the Bayers Lake Industrial Park in mainland Halifax via the MacDonald Bridge, North Street/Chebucto Road and Lacewood Drive. The route also serviced the Mumford and Lacewood terminals in Halifax, as well as the Bridge and Highfield terminals and the Ilsley Transit Centre (garage) in Dartmouth.

In 2017, the route 52 was replaced by a similar route, the Route 3 Crosstown as part of Halifax Transit's Moving Forward Together Program.

From 1980 - 2003, the route serviced the area from the Burnside Industrial Park to the Bridge Terminal during off-peak times, but during rush hour the route was extended to Halifax, terminating at Mumford Terminal. All day service to Halifax, as well as extending the Halifax terminus to the Bayers Lake Industrial Park, were introduced in 2003. The original routing in the Burnside area was also slightly altered in 2003, with the route originally servicing Primrose Drive and Robert Burns Drive, entering Highfield terminal via the rear gate off of Pinecrest Drive, then exiting onto Highfield Park Drive. The route today skips Primrose and Robert Burns, turning directly onto Highfield Park Drive, as well as completely skipping the terminal itself (the route stops on the road without entering the terminal to reduce delays). As well, minor changes in the industrial park were made, specifically in the area of the transit garage. Due to the layout of the streets in Burnside, transit drivers getting onto the route 52 at the transit garage (to begin their shifts at the Bridge Terminal) would have to get on as the bus first enters the park, having to sit on board as the route navigates the Burnside streets; in 2003, changes were made so that the route loops back to the transit garage before exiting the park, so drivers can get on at that point. A result of the changes is that the route is now very confusing to visualize, as well as difficult to follow on a map, as it loops around and goes back over its self at a couple of points. In 2011 the route that the 52 in Bayerslake was changed. The route used to travel up to the store fronts and re entering Chain Lake drive via the Costco Driveway. The service to the store fronts was removed due to safety reasons and was adjusted to travel Chain Lake drive in both directions.

Alternate rush hour routing

During rush hour the route 52 does not service the Akerley Drive and Fielding Avenue area of Burnside. Instead, after leaving the transit garage, it loops via Ilsley Avenue, Wright Avenue and MacDonald Avenue to the garage, and back towards Bayers Lake.

Terminals and Major Stops

The route 52 services the following terminals and major stops:

• Ilsley Transit Centre (bus garage)
• Highfield Terminal
• Bridge Terminal
• Mumford Terminal
• Lacewood Terminal

Destination Signs

Destination Sign		Description
52	CROSSTOWN TO BAYERS LAKE	to Halifax & Bayers Lake
52	CROSSTOWN TO BURNSIDE	to Dartmouth & Burnside
52	CROSSTOWN TO ILSLEY	to Dartmouth & Burnside (Ilsley Avenue, rush hour only)
52	CROSSTOWN TO BURNSIDE BUS GARAGE ONLY	to Dartmouth (terminates at bus garage)

52 BRIDGE - Only used on a couple of Dartmouth-bound Saturday and Sunday runs, terminating at the Bridge

52 LACEWOOD - Used on a couple of weekday evening runs