News Releases

The Downtown Transit Terminal on 23rd Street will undergo a short-term construction project from August 21 to 27, 2024, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances. This rehabilitation work involves roadway resurfacing and curb drainage in the terminal's westbound lane. 

Several bus routes will be temporarily relocated during this project to the east side of 3rd Avenue between 22nd and 23rd streets:

• Routes 2, 5, and 15 will be temporarily relocated from August 21 to 23.
• Routes 8 and 80s will be temporarily relocated from August 21 to 27.

Temporary bus stop signage and transit staff will help locate transfers and buses, and “no parking” signs will be set up at the temporary terminal route locations. Detours will guide motorists around the work zone.

Please note the sidewalks of the existing terminal will remain open, and the Transit Customer Service Centre will maintain regular hours of operation. 

Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit.      

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at transit.services@saskatoon.ca or 306.975.3100. Thank you for your cooperation and support.                           

When classes resume in September, Saskatoon Transit wants customers to know that buses will be busy and some buses during morning and afternoon rush hours may be too full to take on more passengers. If you plan to take the bus during morning or afternoon rush hour peak times, please plan ahead to avoid delays that can happen with peak riding times.

Trips on routes in all areas of the city can fill up; however, it’s typically felt on routes to and from high schools and post-secondary schools in the morning and afternoon. This was an issue during the previous school year and ridership is expected to be higher this fall, exacerbating the overcapacity issue.

“Saskatoon Transit is gearing up for its busiest season as students head back to class. Unfortunately, the demand is here faster than the new buses on order, so we expect buses to be very full with limited extra buses to add to service,” says Mike Moellenbeck, Director of Saskatoon Transit. “We apologize to customers who are affected and are committed to addressing the overcapacity routes as best we can with the limited options.”

All available buses are on the road and there may not be enough to meet the frequency or capacity needed on some routes to take everyone at peak times. The eight new buses arriving at the end of the year will help with some of the issues and Saskatoon Transit will be in a good position to meet the demand by the end of 2025 when the next order of 20 buses arrives.  

Where someone with a car may leave earlier to avoid rush-hour traffic, someone using public transit  may want to consider taking an earlier bus if possible, to avoid delays that can happen with everyone trying to get to work and school at the same time," Moellenbeck adds.

September is a busy time for Saskatoon Transit. “Be bus ready” for back-to-school and follow these tips for taking transit this September:

1. Download the real-time mobile app Transit or Google Maps and plan your September trips with the new fall schedule.
2. Check on options for routes, stops and times to get to your destination. If possible, an earlier bus might help avoid delays that can happen with peak riding times.
3. Be ready to hop on when the bus comes with your pass ready to scan. All riders are expected to pay bus fare.
4. Make space for others: Move to the back of the bus and lower your backpack.
5. If you can stand, please offer your seat to someone who isn’t as steady.

A 10-year fleet renewal funding plan was approved in 2023 to increase and improve the reliability of the fleet. Eight new buses will arrive this winter and another 20 are expected by the end of 2025, as the lead time on bus delivery can be up to 18 months. Saskatoon Transit made several changes to operations and maintenance to improve the overall service delivery following a 2022 City Auditor review.

Saskatoon Transit ridership continues to grow and is anticipated to match or surpass the 2019 peak of 13.2 million rides in 2024. Year-to-date ridership at July 31, 2024 is approximately 18% higher than July 31, 2023 year-to-date ridership.

The City of Saskatoon will have several adjusted civic services and holiday hours of operation on the civic holiday, Saskatchewan Day, Monday, August 5.

Find out parking requirements, what's open or closed, holiday operating schedules for Leisure Centres, outdoor pools,  Saskatoon Transit/Access Transit, Saskatoon Public Library locations, Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo, Remai Modern, waste collection schedules and much more here.

The City of Saskatoon hopes everyone enjoys a relaxing and safe holiday long weekend.

Visit saskatoon.ca to learn more about the City of Saskatoon's many programs and services.

The City of Saskatoon will have several adjusted civic services and hours of operation for the civic holiday, Saskatchewan Day, Monday, August 5. Find out what's open or closed, holiday operating schedules and more below.

CITY HALL

City Hall will be closed on Monday, August 5, and will reopen on Tuesday, August 6, at 8 a.m.

ROADWAY DETOURS & CLOSURES

Check here for detailed long weekend road restrictions for priority one roadways.

REMAI MODERN 

Remai Modern will be closed on Monday, August 5.

SASKATOON PUBLIC LIBRARY

All Saskatoon Public Library locations will be closed on Monday, August 5. During July and August, all libraries are closed on Sundays.  

SASKATOON TRANSIT

• Fixed-route transit will run holiday service hours on August 5 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (normal fares apply).
  • Please consult the mobile app transit to plan your trip.Please consult the mobile app transit to plan your trip.
  • Visit saskatoontransit.ca
• OnDemand service will not be available on August 5.
• Access Transit will operate holiday service hours on August 5 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.  
  • Trips must be booked in advance as per normal procedures (8:15 a.m. to 10:45 p.m.).
  • Customers are reminded that subscriptions do not apply on Statutory Holidays.
• Transit Customer Service Centre will be closed for walk-in customers on August 5, but phone lines (306-975-3100) will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

PAY PARKING

• Parking payment is not required on Monday, August 5.
• Motorists are reminded that all other parking requirements remain in effect, including parking time limits.

MUNICIPAL IMPOUND LOT

• Vehicles will not be released to the public on Monday, August 5.
• Open for regular business on Saturday, August 3 from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
• Information on Vehicle Seizures

WASTE COLLECTIONS

Garbage, Recycling, and Organics have collections as scheduled. Check your Collection Calendar here.

MATERIAL RECOVERY CENTRE & LANDFILL

• The Material Recovery Centre and Landfill are open on Monday, August 5 from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
• Cash transactions are accepted, although Credit and Debit are recommended.
• More information at saskatoon.ca/mrc.

COMPOST DEPOT

The Compost Depot is open on Monday, August 5 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WOODLAWN CEMETERY

• The cemetery office is closed on Monday, August 5.
• Cemetery grounds are open to the public 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily as per usual.

SASKATOON FORESTRY FARM PARK & ZOO

Regular Hours of Operation

• Zoo – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Zoo Train – 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• Forestry Farm Park - 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

LEISURE CENTRES

Search for drop-in program information including fitness and weight room hours, public swim sessions and fitness programs on Leisure Online at saskatoon.ca/leisureonline.

• Cosmo Civic Centre - Closed
• Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre - Closed for facility upgrade. Learn more at saskatoon.ca/harrybailey.

• Lakewood Civic Centre – 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Lawson Civic Centre – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Saskatoon Field House – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Shaw Centre – 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Terry Fox Track - Closed

NUTRIEN PLAYLAND AT KINSMEN

Open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

GOLF COURSES

• Holiday Park, Wildwood and Silverwood golf courses are open regular hours operation – tee times begin at 6 a.m.
• Holiday Park and Silverwood driving ranges are open regular hours of operation - 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (last bucket sold at 8 p.m.)

OUTDOOR POOLS

• Lathey & Mayfair Pools – Public Swim from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• George Ward & Riversdale Pools
  • Family and Lane Swim from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Public Swim from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

NOTIFYNOW

Residents are encouraged to sign-up for notifynow to receive timely and targeted public safety messages. Notifynow is a free service. Tell us how to best reach you on your preferred communication device. Visit saskatoon.ca/notifynow for more information.

YXE SERVICE ALERTS

For information and updates on service disruptions such as power or water check saskatoon.ca/servicealerts or follow @yxeservicealert on Twitter. 

Saskatoon Transit and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 615 released videos featuring frontline employees sharing their experience working in public transit and a message for residents and customers. When people watch their stories, we hope they will recognize them as individuals who deserve empathy and respect so they can do their jobs and get home safely at the end of their day.  

Bus operators, supervisors and customer service employees have been exposed to more aggressive and violent incidents since the spring. Every employee deserves to feel safe at work and Saskatoon Transit is actively taking measures to provide a safe environment for frontline employees and customers. 

The campaign is one of the initiatives in Saskatoon Transit’s frontline employee and customer safety plan that was rolled out in mid-June to reduce negative interactions for our frontline employees and customers.   

The series includes Saskatoon Transit bus operators Stevie and David, customer service representative Manisha and operations supervisor Noureddine. Watch the videos at transit.saskatoon.ca/TransitSafety.   

Saskatoon Transit and Access Transit are actively working with supporting teams to resolve disruptions caused by a widespread Microsoft system outage that has affected internal software.

Saskatoon Transit disruptions:

• Incoming phone lines.
• Real-time bus location updates on Transit and other trip-planning apps.
• Service alerts for detours or service interruptions.
• Mobile ticketing purchases are intermittently unavailable in the Transit and TGo apps. Fares already purchased in the apps remain available for use.
  • The OnDemand Transit app remains unaffected.
• The Customer Service Centre is experiencing a high volume of inquiries. Customers can contact the Saskatoon Transit Customer Service team via email at transit.services@saskatoon.ca.

Access Transit disruptions:

• Incoming phone lines
• Customers can connect with the Access Transit team via email at accesstransit@saskatoon.ca.

Despite these disruptions, the downtown Customer Service Centre remains open for physical ticket purchases.

Your patience is appreciated as this is resolved.

Saskatoon Transit and Access Transit are experiencing phoneline disruptions due to a widespread and known Microsoft system outage. 

Access Transit

• Cannot receive incoming phone calls. Outgoing calls have not been affected.
• Customers can connect with the Access Transit team via email (accesstransit@saskatoon.ca ). 

Transit

• Cannot receive incoming phone calls.
• Realtime bus locations are unavailable.
• Service alerts cannot be pushed to the app.

Supporting teams are aware of this issue and are working to resolve it. Your patience is appreciated. 

Following extensive planning and careful consideration, City officials have proposed the name “Link” to be used for the branding and marketing of the new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. This new bus service will fall under the master brand of Saskatoon Transit, but it will have its own visual identity to reflect the unique service while complementing the master brand. 

Research on BRT systems in cities across North America shows early introduction and adoption of a BRT system brand identity is essential to the success of the new transit service. A report will be presented July 17 to the Governance and Priorities Committee of City Council seeking approval for the new Saskatoon Transit BRT brand name and visual identity. 

City Administration worked with Entro, a global firm with specialized knowledge in this field, on brand development for the BRT. A comprehensive eight-step process guided the identification of a brand name and visual identity. Steps included a brand and site audit, stakeholder research, visioning, naming, brand development and validation, visual language, and guidelines.  

The proposed “Link” brand will refer exclusively to the rapid transit lines (routes) currently identified as the red, green, and blue lines. 

Through naming workshops and discussions held with the public and key groups/organizations in Saskatoon, the name was associated with words such as connectivity, welcoming, accessible, reliable, modern and clear/straightforward. Participants also identified that the name embodied concepts of connection, speed and network and was timeless and easy to understand. 

If approved by City Council, work on the Link brand, marketing and wayfinding signage will continue over the coming months. This will involve the implementation of a communications and marketing plan aimed to increase community awareness of the new brand name. Communications will be focused on informing the public before there are construction impacts and provide education on the new future transit service. 

With the final BRT funding announcement from the Investing in Canada’s Infrastructure Program (ICIP) on June 28, the project can now proceed to the detailed design, procurement and construction phases. The City has retained engineering and consulting firm CIMA+ to complete detailed designs and assist in the tendering and management of construction contracts.   

Construction of part of the transit signal priority (TSP) system and the start of construction of 14 of the BRT stations’ concrete platforms is expected to begin this summer. This work will continue with another 30 stations in 2025.  

Engagement activities have been ongoing over the last few years on streetscaping design elements, public art components, station design, feeder routes and other project features, and will continue until the system is launched. 

For more information on the project, visit saskatoon.ca/brt. 

Every employee deserves to feel safe at work and Saskatoon Transit is actively taking measures to provide a safe environment for frontline employees and customers.

Saskatoon Transit is working with the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS), Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD), Amalgamated Transit Union Local 615 (ATU) and other community stakeholders to address concerns with transit bus and facility safety. This work is being done as part of a larger community safety strategy throughout our community that the City of Saskatoon, SPS and SFD are actively rolling out.

Bus operators, supervisors and customer service employees have been exposed to more aggressive and violent incidents this spring. Since the beginning of May, Saskatoon Transit has increased security patrols at the Downtown, Confederation Mall and Market Mall transit terminals along with additional supervisor ride-alongs with operators to have an increased uniformed presence on buses and at facilities.

Several other initiatives are underway as part of the Saskatoon Transit Frontline Employee Safety Plan to improve safety on buses and at terminals for employees and riders. The plan will enhance security, improve internal processes, expand employee training, augment mental health support for employees following an incident, strengthen coordination with emergency services and build a stronger culture of safety at Saskatoon Transit. Initiatives include:

1. Streamlined process for reporting an incident to SPS to assist the incident investigation.
2. Deployment of the Fire Community Support team to bus terminals and on bus routes with a higher number of reported incidents.
3. Running a public marketing campaign featuring frontline employees from Saskatoon Transit to increase the profile of bus operators in the community.
4. Developing a process to ban a problem customer from Saskatoon Transit buses and facilities.
5. Exploring the feasibility of installing CCTV cameras at the Downtown and Confederation Mall terminals.
6. Rolling out the new Workplace Violence Prevention Policy and updated Respectful and Harassment-free Workplace process and introducing the new Corporate Customer Conduct Standard.
7. Developing and delivering new customer service and de-escalation training for frontline Saskatoon Transit employees.
8. Enhanced mental health support for Saskatoon Transit employees.
9. Advocating for tougher sentences under the Criminal Code for assaults against a Saskatoon Transit employee.

Saskatoon Transit will continue to protect its employees and customers through these new initiatives and by working closely with SPS, SFD, ATU and other community stakeholders on the "One City" approach to Community Safety and Wellbeing strategy.

In addition to these new initiatives, all buses have a protective operator barrier and CCTV cameras with visible signage to inform passengers that their actions are being recorded.

The Downtown Transit Terminal on 23rd Street will be closed between 2nd and 3rd avenues on Wednesday, June 5, at 7:00 a.m. for roadway patching following a water main break repair last week. This project is expected to take eight hours to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

The terminal will be temporarily moved along 3rd Avenue with minimal effects on transit service and schedules. Temporary bus stop signage will help locate transfers and buses, and “no parking” signs will be set up at the temporary terminal location. Detours will guide motorists around the work zone.

Please note the sidewalks of the existing terminal will remain open, and the Transit Customer Service Centre will maintain regular hours of operation. Thank you for your patience and for following traffic detour signs for everyone’s safety.

Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.      

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at transit.services@saskatoon.ca or 306.975.3100. Thank you for your cooperation and support.