Regional councillors are hoping to find a few ways to help alleviate mounting congestion on the roads at this week’s meeting, which will mark the sixth day of a Metro Transit strike.

Among the options that will be discussed is the possibility of letting drivers park at empty bus stops, and changing taxi zones.

Coun. Dawn Sloane (Halifax Downtown) says she has asked Deputy CAO Michael Labrecque to discuss the situation with Halifax Regional Police.

“He would be calling around to see what he could find out, probably with the police and with our bylaw people to see if there are other ways and means for us to open up parking opportunities in the downtown,” Sloane tells News 95.7.

With buses off the road, traffic volume on the roads has been significantly higher, and parking is at a premium in the downtown core.

Currently, police are ticketing and towing vehicles which are parked at bus stops, loading zones and other no-parking areas. Council has no authority to direct HRM police to change the way they enforce the laws.

“We have to talk to our police department,” said Sloane, adding she has no qualms about motorists parking at bus stops while the strike continues. “I don’t have a problem with it. But we have to vet it through the system. If people park in a loading zone, that doesn’t give the person who is trying to unload something a place to park.”

Sloane has also suggested opening up other parking spots which may be available on streets which have recently been designated as one way.

Council will also debate changes to taxi zones that would improve access to cabs for HRM residents.

Speaking to people on the street, most agree opening the empty bus stops to drivers is a sound plan while the strike continues.

“They’ve got to park somewhere and I think it’s a good idea,” said one woman at Young and Robie.

“It’s going to be first come, first serve,” said one driver in the north end. “They’re all going to be full by8 o’clock, so that isn’t going to do a whole lot. I would say get the busses back on the roads. That’s the only solution.”

Tuesday’s council meeting was originally cancelled due to a light agenda, but was reinstated after some councillors said it wasn’t appropriate to take the week off during a transit strike.

Unionized transit workers took to the picket lines Thursday morning when negotiations between HRM and the Amalgamated Transit Union broke down. The two sides remained at an impasse over the weekend.