 It has been shelved by HRM staff and politicians, pending the provincial government's creation of a regional transportation planning authority, similar to what eastern Massachusetts did in the 1960s when MBTA was created.Historically, the Halifax Peninsula had an extensive streetcar transit system dating to the late 1800s.Operated by various private companies including the "Halifax Street Railway Co.", the "Nova Scotia Power Co." (not the same company as the present electric utility), the "Halifax Electric Tramway Co.", the "Nova Scotia Tramways and Power Co.", and the "Nova Scotia Light and Power Company, Limited", the streetcar system was abandoned by NSL&P on March 26, 1949.