Saskatoon Transit’s ClassPass program is a resounding success! The numbers are in after two full years of offering the program, proving it's been well received. Since the program’s inception, over 1,000 requests have been approved - providing free transit services to 26,451 students for class field trips. Most field trips take place in May and June with 2,256 participants in May 2019 and 2,323 participants in June 2019. 

Fitting with the City’s Strategic Goal of Moving Around, the ClassPass program provides free transit service to Kindergarten through Grade 12 students, teachers, and chaperons, on regular transit routes, for field trip destinations within Saskatoon.  

"I am so thankful for the city's commitment to providing free transit services for class trips,” says Leanne Anderson, Grade 8 teacher at St. Philip School. “It has allowed my students the opportunity to engage in place-based learning opportunities that they otherwise would not have had the opportunity to participate in."  

The ClassPass program was designed to promote a change in attitudes and culture around public transit, while effectively providing students with transportation for class trips. It also introduces transit to a younger audience, building familiarity with taking public transit, while increasing ridership during non-peak hours.  

“We are looking to reach youth at a fundamental level to show them how transit can fit into any lifestyle, at any age, normalizing it as a way of life in our community,” says Jim McDonald, Director Saskatoon Transit  

Teachers must apply for a ClassPass at least two weeks in advance and only one class on a bus at a time. The program runs between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Applications can be found online at SaskatoonTransit.ca/class-trips. 

Due to the success of the program so far Saskatoon Transit expects even higher numbers of teachers and classes participating in the ClassPass program in the 2019/2020 school year.  

With students back in school and increased ridership, Saskatoon Transit reminds riders of the potential of full buses. Saskatoon Transit works to anticipate the areas of growth in the City and puts a plan in place to accommodate for busy routes. Nonetheless, bus riders are reminded during this time of year that full buses can be expected as students find the routes and times that work best.  

As students explore routes and times, riders are encouraged to make slight schedule adjustments (less than 10 minutes) where possible and make transfers to high frequency corridors along 8th Street, 22nd Street and Attridge Drive. Taking the bus at a different time could minimize wait time and riding along a high frequency corridor means more buses per hour. 

High school and university routes are a complement to the regular service provided by Saskatoon Transit.  

Riders are encouraged to use the real-time transit trip planning tool on the app called Transit. These apps give departure, arrival and route options. Riders are encouraged to mark the routes they take regularly as their favourite to receive push notifications on service changes.  

For help with trip planning please call Transit Customer Service at 306-975-3100. 

The City of Saskatoon and GFL Environmental Inc. are hosting the next HHW Drop-off Day this Sunday, September 8 from 9am - 3:30pm at the Civic Operations Centre at 57 Valley Road.

Residents are invited to drop off their Household Hazardous Waste materials for recycling and safe disposal. Common HHW includes aerosols, automotive fluids, batteries, cleaners, cylinders, light bulbs, medications, yard chemicals, and more. These and many other types of hazardous materials should not be put in the garbage or recycling containers, dumped on the ground or poured down the drain as they pose significant health and environmental risks and can cause injury to workers or damage to equipment.

Event Details

• Location: Civic Operations Centre (57 Valley Road) 
  • ​​​The drop-off site is in the parking lot. Directional signs will be set up and attendants will be on site to guide you.
  • HHW material will no longer be accepted at the previous location at SaskTel Centre.
• Dates:  September 8, October 6, November 3
• Time: 9am - 3:30pm (Gates close at 3:30pm, so please arrive before 3pm to avoid the rush.)
• The program is open to Saskatoon residents only – no commercial loads will be accepted. For disposal/recycling of hazardous wastes from non-residential sources, please contact GFL Environmental Inc. at 306-244-9500.

Ask the Wizard! To avoid potentially long line-ups and wait times, residents are also encouraged to use the Waste Wizard tool to search their items and find the most convenient disposal information.

For a list of accepted items, future drop-off dates, and more information on HHW, please visit saskatoon.ca/hazardouswaste. 

All university and high school routes are back in service as of Tuesday, September 3.  Many of Saskatoon Transit’s regular routes service school areas and special high school and university routes have been established to provide enhanced service for students.  

Students are encouraged to check the routes and schedules at SaskatoonTransit.ca or plan their trip in advance using the mobile app called Transit.  

Top 5 benefits of taking the bus: 

• Gives you the freedom to get around the city with over 40 routes 
• Real time transit tracking and multi-modal options through the mobile app Transit  
• Turns drive time into me time  
• High frequency service along 8th Street, 22nd Street, Attridge Drive and College Drive means less waiting  
• Saves money and time looking for and paying for parking or gassing up the car   

Go online for a list of where to get your bus passes or contact Transit Customer Service at 306-975-3100.  

Saskatoon Transit is a reliable option for many Saskatoon residents providing on average over 40,000 rides every day.

Transit, Saskatoon Transit’s endorsed mobile app, announces today a major update to its multimodal trip planner. With Transit+ riders can now make first-and last-mile connections to buses with personal bikes, Uber ridehail, or riide taxis, making it easier than ever for riders to get aboard public transportation.  

“Every month, tens of thousands of users in Saskatoon rely on the app called Transit to plan their trips,” says Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit. “As soon as Transit+ was unveiled, we immediately were interested in bringing this multimodal trip planner to our riders, expanding the reach of Saskatoon Transit service beyond the bus stop.”  

Initially launched in other markets last November, Transit+ is a first-of-a-kind feature that helps transit riders reach transit service that’s not within walking distance. By suggesting trips that combine transit with options like bikes, taxis, and ridehail, Transit+ does the work that used to require juggling multiple apps and schedules.  

A recent update to the multimodal trip planner added personal bikes to the mix. Since bikes were added to Transit+ on July 18, Saskatoon Transit riders have selected hundreds of trips that include taking a bike to or from the bus.  

The multimodal trip planner will now show options that suggest using riide to take a taxi to the nearest bus service, while showing a real-time ETA for their riide to arrive. Users will be able to plan, book and pay for a riide trip in just a few taps while getting real-time updates on their bus connection.  

“Our mission and vision,” says Carlo Triolo, General Manager of riide “is to be a part of a transportation ecosystem, connecting people & communities through better transportation. Collaborating with other transportation providers on projects such as Transit+ is an integral part of creating Mobility as a Service (MaaS) here in Saskatoon. Passengers want convenience & ease of use and they want to be able to combine their options while minimizing costs and wait times. We are very excited to be a part of this launch.” 

“Our mission at Transit is to make it easy to get from A to B without your own car,” says David Block-Schachter, Chief Business Officer at Transit. “By connecting bikes, ridehail, and taxis to public transportation, we’re promoting them as vital first- and last-mile links to reduce congestion and help more riders access transit.”  

The mobile app, Transit is available to download for iPhone and Android at transitapp.com. 

About Saskatoon Transit:  
Saskatoon Transit is a division within the City of Saskatoon’s Transportation & Construction Department delivering nearly a million rides each month. With 40 routes and nearly 1500 stops, Saskatoon Transit serves all corners of the City providing eco-friendly and safe alternative transportation for residents. SaskatoonTransit.ca  

About riide:   
riide exists to give people the freedom of mobility on a platform that quickly and effortlessly connects those in need of a riide with drivers. riide was formed on the premise that everyone who needs transportation, no matter who they are, where they live or how they choose to pay, should have access to a safe and reliable riide, ensuring open transportation for all. Our mission is the connect people and communities through better transportation. Working with Transit and Saskatoon Transit to connect “first mile / last mile” as well as MaaS plays a big part in what we do.  

About Transit: 
Transit solves the urban commute in more than 200 cities worldwide. Users can easily navigate public transit with accurate real-time predictions, simple trip planning, and step-by-step navigation. The app also integrates other transport modes — bikesharing, carsharing and ridehail — so users can determine the best way to get from A to B. The company is based in Montréal, QC. You can learn more by visiting transitapp.com. 

Saskatoon Transit is asking residents to nominate bus stops for improvements or replacement.  

“Connectivity is the driving force of Saskatoon Transit; whether it’s getting our riders where they need to go or gaining insight for new advancements,” says Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit. “We have been focusing on improving the Transit customer experience and bus stops and shelters play a big part in that.”  

The Bus Stop Blues campaign is in its third year and kicks-off today, August 27, on Saskatoon Transit Twitter, City of Saskatoon Twitter and the City of Saskatoon’s Facebook page. Over the next four weeks, using the hashtag #BusStopBluesYXE, Saskatoon Transit is asking residents to post a photo, location and reason why they would like to see improvements.  

Over the past two years 42 bus stops have seen improvements, many of which came from Bus Stop Blues submissions. 

“We want people to know we are listening and reacting to their feedback,” says McDonald. “This is an opportunity for the public to help shape the future of Saskatoon Transit in our city.”  

Following the campaign, bus shelters and stops will be classified to see what improvements can be made this year and what improvements may have to wait until the spring. 

This year, Saskatoon Transit has budget to improve approximately 23 bus stops throughout the City of Saskatoon. 

Saskatoon Transit is once again offering free system-wide transit service during Folkfest operating hours for all 2019 Folkfest Passport holders. This quick and easy service is offered to passengers who show their Folkfest Passport when boarding during the following hours:  

• Thursday, August 15:          3:50 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. 
• Friday, August 16:               3:50 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. 
• Saturday, August 17:           2:15 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. 

All route maps specific to Folkfest service with stop locations can be found on SaskatoonTransit.ca. 

Service schedule:  

Routes 150 and 151 will run every 15 minutes; 

Route 152 (load and go shuttle service); 

Route 153 (load and go shuttle service). 

Plan your trip and find transit route information, service alerts, and real-time bus locations on the mobile app called Transit, or call 306-975-3100. 

The City of Saskatoon and GFL Environmental Inc. are hosting the next HHW Drop-off Day this Sunday, August 11 from 9am - 3:30pm at the Civic Operations Centre at 57 Valley Road.

Residents are invited to drop off their Household Hazardous Waste materials for recycling and safe disposal. Common HHW includes aerosols, automotive fluids, batteries, cleaners, cylinders, light bulbs, medications, yard chemicals, and more. These and many other types of hazardous materials should not be put in the garbage or recycling containers, dumped on the ground or poured down the drain as they pose significant health and environmental risks and can cause injury to workers or damage to equipment.

Event Details

• Location: Civic Operations Centre (57 Valley Road) 
  • ​​​The drop-off site is in the parking lot. Directional signs will be set up and attendants will be on site to guide you.
  • HHW material will no longer be accepted at the previous location at SaskTel Centre.
• Dates: August 11, September 8, October 6, November 3
• Time: 9am - 3:30pm (Gates close at 3:30pm, so please arrive before 3pm to avoid the rush.)
• The program is open to Saskatoon residents only – no commercial loads will be accepted. For disposal/recycling of hazardous wastes from non-residential sources, please contact GFL Environmental Inc. at 306-244-9500.

Ask the Wizard! To avoid potentially long line-ups and wait times, residents are also encouraged to use the Waste Wizard tool to search their items and find the most convenient disposal information.

For a list of accepted items, future drop-off dates, and more information on HHW, please visit saskatoon.ca/hazardouswaste. 

The Saskatoon EX Parade takes place today, Tuesday, August 6, 2019. Road and parking restrictions will be in place on the downtown parade route from 10:00 a.m. until the parade concludes (approximately noon).

Spadina Crescent East from 24th Street East to Warburton Street will be the parade staging area and will be closed from 6:00 a.m. until approximately 12:00 (noon) p.m. This closure will include Queen Street east of 7th Avenue North.

The parade will follow the traditional route:

• Begins at 24th Street East and Spadina Crescent East
• West on 24th Street East to 4th Avenue North
• South on 4th Avenue North to 20th Street East
• East on 20th Street East to Spadina Crescent East
• North on Spadina Crescent East to 24th Street East

The parade will impact some Transit routes and bus stops on the following routes: Route 808, 4 City Centre and 5 City Centre. Transit service alerts, regarding detours or temporary bus stop closures, and real-time bus locations are available on the app called Transit or Google Transit on desktop.

Please respect detours, signs and barriers before and during the parade.

Direct service from the Special Events Stop (outside the 2nd Avenue Lofts at 23rd Street and 2nd Avenue) to see Rob Zombie at SaskTel Centre tonight, Tuesday, August 6 is available at the following times: 

• 5:45 p.m. 
• 6:05 p.m. 

• 6:25 p.m.
• 6:45 p.m.    

Post event drop-off is the downtown terminal and regular fares apply ($3.00 per trip). Transfers and passes are also accepted.  
 
DID YOU KNOW – you can now plan your trip to events at SaskTel Centre on Route 333 on the mobile app called Transit up to two weeks in advance! Download the Transit app today from the Apple Store or Google Play. 

Transit service times for special events at SaskTel Centre can be found at SaskatoonTransit.ca/plan-my-trip/popular-destinations. Experience the convenience of using Saskatoon Transit to attend all your favourite