Town of Truro NS

surface. It’s like a Norman Rockwell picture where you see people skating in front of our restored library,” Dolter explains. “In the summertime, it becomes an area for concerts or community celebrations. It brings people downtown all year round, with as many as 5,000 people attending our Canada Day fireworks or holiday tree lighting ceremonies.” The town has recently completed a municipal planning strategy that emphasizes downtown revitalization and pedestrian accessibility.A notable development includes Stanfield’s 512-unit project that will incorporate a trail network along the Salmon River, connecting with existing active transportation routes. “We’ve finished our active transportation master plan and are completing the engineering plan to start building the required infrastructure,” says Dolter. “This will make walking or cycling a reality for even more people in town.” The trail system will link downtown with what the locals call “uptown”– the retail mall areas – enabling residents to travel between commercial zones without vehicles.This approach follows contemporary urban planning principles that prioritize human-scale development, which increases property values while reducing carbon emissions and improving public health outcomes. INFRASTRUCTURE FOR GROWTH Truro’s ambitious development plans rest on a foundation of robust infrastructure investments that position the municipality for sustainable expansion. “A number of years ago we had high-speed internet and high-speed fiber brought directly into town,” Dolter says. “We’re actually a route for one of the major telecommunications networks, which is available to commercial users who require it.” This digital infrastructure gives Truro a competitive advantage over many similarly sized communities, particularly as remote work continues to reshape residential preferences in Atlantic Canada. The town’s approach to water and sewer systems shows foresight in municipal planning. “We’ve done a lot of work being ready with our storm and sanitary services. We’re completely separated, unlike 4 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 04

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx