The Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission , operating as Halifax Harbour Bridges , is a Nova Scotia Crown corporation created in 1950 by provincial statute. It currently operates under a new statute passed in 2005 named the Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission Act . The commission is responsible for constructing, operating, and maintaining two suspension bridges that cross Halifax Harbour between the communities of Halifax and Dartmouth .
31-822: The Commission reports to the Minister of Finance and the Nova Scotia Cabinet approves the Commission's financing. The commission has nine board members, five of whom are appointed by the provincial government, including the chair and vice-chair; the Halifax Regional Municipality appoints four councillors to the remaining seats on the board. The commission's toll rates are approved by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board . [1] The Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission
62-551: A satellite transponder receives signals over a range of uplink frequencies, usually from a satellite ground station ; the transponder amplifies them, and re-transmits them on a different set of downlink frequencies to receivers on Earth, often without changing the content of the received signal or signals. A communications satellite ’s channels are called transponders because each is a separate transceiver or repeater . With digital video data compression and multiplexing , several video and audio channels may travel through
93-405: A transponder is a device that, upon receiving a signal, emits a different signal in response. The term is a blend of transmitter and responder . In air navigation or radio frequency identification , a flight transponder is an automated transceiver in an aircraft that emits a coded identifying signal in response to an interrogating received signal. In a communications satellite ,
124-501: A MACPASS transponder . Prior to May 1, 2008, bridge users could also use bridge tokens, at a cost of $ 0.60 each. The original toll, when the Macdonald opened in 1955, was 40 cents plus 5 cents per passenger. There was also a separate toll for trucks, cyclists, pedestrians, motorcycles and horses/rider. MACPASS was introduced in 1998 to speed up toll collection and provide a more convenient payment method for bridge users. The MACPASS
155-414: A lap they swipe or touch the receiver which is connected to a computer and log their lap time. NASCAR uses transponders and cable loops placed at numerous points around the track to determine the lineup during a caution period. This system replaced a dangerous race back to the start-finish line . Many modern automobiles have keys with transponders hidden inside the plastic head of the key. The user of
186-520: A result, differences in transponder functionality also might influence the functional description of related optical modules like transceivers and muxponders . Another type of transponder occurs in identification friend or foe (IFF) systems in military aviation and in air traffic control secondary surveillance radar (beacon radar) systems for general aviation and commercial aviation . Primary radar works best with large all-metal aircraft, but not so well on small, composite aircraft. Its range
217-418: A ship's radar screen. Sonar transponders operate under water and are used to measure distance and form the basis of underwater location marking, position tracking and navigation . Electronic toll collection systems such as E-ZPass in the eastern United States use RFID transponders to identify vehicles. Transponders are used in races for lap timing. A cable loop is dug into the race circuit near to
248-408: A single transponder on a single wideband carrier . Original analog video only has one channel per transponder, with subcarriers for audio and automatic transmission identification service ( ATIS ). Non-multiplexed radio stations can also travel in single channel per carrier (SCPC) mode, with multiple carriers (analog or digital) per transponder. This allows each station to transmit directly to
279-570: A six-lane bridge, costing $ 1.1 billion, or a four-lane tunnel, costing $ 1.4 billion, from the southern terminus of the Circumferential Highway to the CN Rail cut on peninsular Halifax. The bridge option would allow for two dedicated lanes for bus rapid transit (BRT), in keeping with HRM's regional planning goal of increasing public transit use. The report listed several options for a third harbour crossing, including twinning of
310-629: A third harbour bridge has come up several times in recent decades. The idea for a crossing from Woodside to Halifax was originally envisioned by traffic engineers in the 1950s and 1960s as part of a larger regional transportation system connecting the Circumferential Highway, Bicentennial Drive, and the cancelled Harbour Drive. In May 2008 the HDBC introduced axle-based tolling on both the MacKay and Macdonald bridges. This system replaced
341-425: A user-pay operation that is self-funding, the Commission receives no assistance from, nor are its loans guaranteed by any level of government. 44°40′7.8″N 63°34′37.1″W / 44.668833°N 63.576972°W / 44.668833; -63.576972 ( Halifax Harbour Bridges ) Executive Council of Nova Scotia The Executive Council of Nova Scotia (informally and more commonly,
SECTION 10
#1732798806079372-405: Is also limited by terrain and rain or snow and also detects unwanted objects such as automobiles, hills and trees. Furthermore, it cannot always estimate the altitude of an aircraft. Secondary radar overcomes these limitations but it depends on a transponder in the aircraft to respond to interrogations from the ground station to make the plane more visible. Depending on the type of interrogation,
403-412: Is mandatory in controlled airspace in many countries. Some countries have also required, or are moving toward requiring, that all aircraft be equipped with Mode S, even in uncontrolled airspace . However, in the field of general aviation there have been objections to these moves, because of the cost, size, limited benefit to the users in uncontrolled airspace, and, in the case of balloons and gliders ,
434-631: Is referred to as the Governor-in-Council . Other members are selected by the Premier of Nova Scotia and appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor. Most cabinet ministers are the head of a department , but this is not always the case. The current ministry has been in place since October 24, 2024, following the resignation of Allan MacMaster as Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance. Transponder In telecommunications ,
465-662: Is the same device used on other nearby toll facilities, such as the Cobequid Pass , the toll section of Highway 104 , and the Confederation Bridge . It is therefore not required to purchase a separate transponder for each service. The MACPASS and integrated MACPASS Plus transponders are also set up in cooperation with the Halifax International Airport to work as a payment method at the airport's new pay per use parking facility. As
496-703: The Cabinet of Nova Scotia ) is the cabinet of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Almost always made up of members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly , the cabinet is similar in structure and role to the federal Canadian cabinet, though smaller in size with different portfolios. The Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia , as representative of the King in Right of Nova Scotia , heads the executive council, and
527-526: The "old bridge", was opened on April 2, 1955. The bridge was designed by Phillip Pratley , a bridge designer also responsible for the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver . The road deck was widened from two to three traffic lanes in 1999, which was achieved by relocating the sidewalk as well as a utility duct. A bikeway was also added at this time. From 2015–2017, the bridge structure suspended below
558-575: The MacKay Bridge is the only crossing that commercial trucks can use to cross the harbour. In February 2008, consultants McCormick Rankin Corporation of Halifax released a report on the need for a third harbour crossing, commissioned by the HDBC. The report shows that cross-harbour traffic is nearing the capacity of the existing two bridges, and concluded that a third harbour crossing would be required by 2016–2026. The report suggested either
589-582: The MacKay bridge, a bridge across the Northwest Arm, and several BRT only tunnels under the harbour, however, the Woodside crossing was determined to be the most beneficial. Initial talks were held in July 2006 with officials at the Halifax Regional Municipality for construction of a third bridge or tunnel across Halifax Harbour which lead the HDBC to commission a needs assessment study. The subject of
620-552: The board's composition. In March 2009, the commission launched its current operating name, Halifax Harbour Bridges, as well as an updated logo. The municipalities around Halifax Harbour were amalgamated in 1996. Today, the province appoints five bridge commissioners, while the Halifax Regional Municipality appoints four. The Angus L. Macdonald Bridge, known locally as the Macdonald Bridge or
651-546: The car may not even be aware that the transponder is there, because there are no buttons to press. When a key is inserted into the ignition lock cylinder and turned, the car's computer sends a signal to the transponder. Unless the transponder replies with a valid code, the computer will not allow the engine to be started. Transponder keys have no battery; they are energized by the signal itself. Transponders may also be used by residents to enter their gated communities . However, having more than one transponder causes problems. If
SECTION 20
#1732798806079682-478: The main cables was completely replaced, including the floor beams, stiffening trusses, road deck and suspender ropes. The A. Murray MacKay Bridge, known locally as the MacKay Bridge or the "new bridge", was opened on July 10, 1970. It is located to the north of the Macdonald Bridge, at the Narrows of Halifax Harbour . The bridge feeds into Highway 111 , the Circumferential Highway. Because of vehicle weight limits,
713-486: The old weight-based tolling system that was used since the opening of the Macdonald bridge in 1955. The switch to axle-based tolling put the HDBC in line with most other toll facilities in North America, making it easier for them to maintain their electronic toll collection system, MACPASS. As of March 1, 2024 the toll for a regular passenger vehicle is $ 1.25 when paid by cash, or $ 1.00 when paid electronically with
744-466: The power requirements during long flights. Transponders are used on some military aircraft to ensure ground personnel can verify the functionality of a missile’s flight termination system prior to launch. Such radar-enhancing transponders are needed as the enclosed weapon bays on modern aircraft interfere with prelaunch, flight termination system verification performed by range safety personnel during training test launches. The transponders re-radiate
775-530: The satellite, rather than paying for a whole transponder, or using landlines to send it to an earth station for multiplexing with other stations. In fiber-optic communications , a transponder is the element that sends and receives the optical signal from a fiber . A transponder is typically characterized by its data rate and the maximum distance the signal can travel. The term "transponder" can apply to different items with important functional differences, mentioned across academic and commercial literature: As
806-850: The signals allowing for much longer communication distances. The International Maritime Organization 's International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requires the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to be fitted aboard international voyaging ships with 300 or more gross tonnage (GT), and all passenger ships regardless of size. AIS transmitters/receivers are generally called transponders , but they generally transmit autonomously, although coast stations can interrogate class B transponders on smaller vessels for additional information. In addition, navigational aids often have transponders called RACON (radar beacons) designed to make them stand out on
837-436: The start/finish line. Each individual runner or car has an active transponder with a unique ID code. When the individual passes the start/finish line, the lap time and the racing position is shown on the score board. Passive and active RFID systems are used in motor sports , and off-road events such as Enduro and Hare and Hounds racing, the riders have a transponder on their person, normally on their arm. When they complete
868-429: The toll plaza, and help alleviate the immediate need for a third harbour crossing by ensuring the full capacity of the existing bridges is utilized. The HDBC stopped selling tokens on April 1, 2008 and stopped accepting tokens on May 1, 2008. Initially bridge users paid a $ 30 deposit for a MACPASS; this was refunded when the token was phased out and users can now get a transponder free of charge. The MACPASS transponder
899-467: The transponder sends back a transponder code (or "squawk code", Mode A) or altitude information (Mode C) to help air traffic controllers to identify the aircraft and to maintain separation between planes. Another mode called Mode S (Mode Select) is designed to help avoiding over-interrogation of the transponder (having many radars in busy areas) and to allow automatic collision avoidance. Mode S transponders are backward compatible with Modes A and C. Mode S
930-553: Was created by provincial statute on 6 December 1950. Three commissioners, including the chairman and secretary, were appointed by the provincial government. The cities of Halifax and Dartmouth each appointed two commissioners, while the Halifax County Municipality appointed one. The bridge commission held its first meeting in January 1951. Later, two additional provincially appointed commissioners were added to
961-446: Was such a success that on July 25, 2006 the HDBC announced they were phasing out the use of tokens to reduce idle times at the toll plaza and ensure the capacity of the bridges was not lessened by toll plaza congestion. When the announcement was made, 55% of tolls were already being paid electronically with MACPASS. It is believed that if this number can be increased, greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced due to reduced idle times at