Saskatoon Transit has 15 new buses on the road with the help of the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF). The new buses are included in the total $24 million contribution towards fleet renewal in Saskatoon.

“The focus of our Fleet Renewal Strategy is to improve rider experience while decreasing operating costs," says Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit.  “With this funding, we were able to purchase 26 new 40 foot buses over the last 12 months.”

The new 12 metre (40 foot) buses are fully accessible, have automated passenger counters, contain the latest Intelligent Transportation System technology and are more fuel efficient. 

 “Investing in public transit infrastructure shortens commute times, reduces congestion, protects the environment and helps the community access services and job opportunities,” says the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency.  “I’m very pleased that these modern, fuel-efficient buses are hitting the streets in Saskatoon, providing residents with better transit service.”

The buses leave a smaller environmental footprint because of improved emissions, but also because they are paint free.  They also come with lower long term operating costs, due to the use of more durable materials.

“Saskatoon residents will enjoy travelling in these new buses while reducing their environmental footprint,” says the Honourable Larry Doke, Minister of Government Relations.  “Investments like this, which is funded under the PTIF program administered by the Government of Saskatchewan, will improve the quality of life for our citizens for years to come.” 

Upgrading the Saskatoon Transit fleet with new buses instead of 10 year old buses saves approximately $40,000 per year, per bus.  With fleet updates over the last five years, Saskatoon Transit has realized a fuel consumption savings of approximately $165,000 per year (based on today’s fuel prices). 

Over the next 10 years, Saskatoon Transit plans to:

• Ensure every bus is fully accessible (by the end of 2018);
• Reduce its average bus age from 12 to 7 years, which will reduce maintenance costs and fleet size (i.e. fewer “spares” required);
• Offer air conditioning and other improved amenities on every bus;

Saskatoon Transit will also be receiving eight smaller 9 metre (30 foot) buses this year funded by PTIF.  Two will be added to Access Transit’s fleet and the remaining will be used for conventional transit.  

Saskatoon Transit encourages Rush fans to avoid traffic and parking by taking the bus to the Saskatchewan Rush game on Friday, January 19, 2018.  

Buses leave from the Special Events Stop (located outside the 2nd Avenue Lofts at 23rd Street and 2nd Avenue) to SaskTel Centre at the following times:

• 5:45 p.m.
• 6:00 p.m.
• 6:20 p.m.
• 6:35 p.m.
• 6:55 p.m.
• 7:10 p.m.

After the game, buses will depart SaskTel Centre as they fill up. 

For regular bus schedules and other trip planning tools including the real-time Transit app visit saskatoontransit.ca.   

Starting January 7, slight timing adjustments will be made to Saskatoon Transit routes and schedule to help improve service.  The following routes will be affected:

• Route 8 – 8^th Street
• Route 19 – Centre Mall
• Route 35 – Silverwood Heights
• Route 40 - Evergreen
• Route 60 - Confederation
• Route 61 - Blairmore
• Route 62 – Montgomery
• Route 63 – Hampton Village
• Route 65 – Kensington
• Route 81 – Taylor Street
• Route 82 – Main Street*
• Route 84 – Briarwood*

*weekend service affected

All new schedules are available at saskatoontransit.ca and will be made available at the Transit Customer Service Centre.

Customers can plan their trip with the updated schedules and real time tracking through Google Transit and on the Transit App. Citizens are encouraged to plan their trip in advance and review updated schedules before traveling. 

Saskatoon Transit encourages Rush fans to avoid traffic and parking by taking the bus to the Saskatchewan Rush game on Saturday, December 23, 2017.  Buses will leave from the Special Events Stop downtown (23rd Street and 2nd Avenue, outside 2nd Avenue Lofts) to SaskTel Centre at the following times:

• 5:45 p.m.
• 6:00 p.m.
• 6:20 p.m.
• 6:35 p.m.
• 6:55 p.m.
• 7:10 p.m.

Buses depart SaskTel Centre after the game as they fill up (around 9:15 p.m.). 

For regular schedules and other trip planning tools, visit saskatoontransit.ca.   

Impaired driving has deadly, life-changing effects.  Enjoy yourself this New Year’s Eve, but make a safe choice and take Transit for free.

Since 1989, Saskatoon Transit and Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) have partnered to offer free Transit and Access Transit service on New Year’s Eve.

For Nolan Barnes, the wrong choice had irreversible consequences; an impaired-driving crash in May of 2010 left Barnes paralyzed and a close friend dead. 

“We make decisions every day, some less important than others,” Barnes says.  “Having free transit service on New Year’s Eve makes the decision not to drink and drive easy.” 

“I’m a victim of my decisions.  I lost a friend and the use of my legs before understanding how the choices we make affect more than just us.”  

Barnes says, making a choice to have a safe ride home not only helps individuals but everyone trying to get where they’re going.  

“Make the resolution not to drink and drive,” he says.

Free bus service, starts at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 31 and will run until 2:45 a.m. (times may vary slightly by route).

“Ding in the New Year allows residents to celebrate responsibly by taking advantage of free transit,” says Mayor Charlie Clark.  “This gives residents an option to have a safe ride home without driving under the influence and putting themselves or others at risk.”

The police service adds its support and advice for thinking ahead for New Year’s Eve celebrations.

“It is crucial everyone has a solid plan for getting home safely before they head out for the evening,” says Saskatoon Police Service Staff Sergeant Patrick Barbar.

Planning is easier than ever: customers who are new to Saskatoon Transit as well as current riders are encouraged to use the free Transit app to plan their route. Wait at a regular stop or flag down a bus at any point along the route, if you are in need of a ride.

“There is no reason for impaired driving, especially on New Year’s Eve,” says Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit.  “We strongly encourage residents to jump on the bus and let us take you to and from your destination.”

“When flagging a bus, use caution, stand on the curb at a safe place for the bus to stop and raise your hand to get the operators attention.”

McDonald says Saskatoon Transit is thankful to have SGI as a partner again this year to provide free service.

“Impaired driving is 100 per cent preventable and there is always a better option than getting behind the wheel if you have been drinking,” says Tyler McMurchy, Media Relations Manager for SGI.  “If your New Year’s Eve plans involve alcohol, take the bus for free with Ding in the New Year or make other plans for a safe, sober ride home.”  

Saskatoon Transit wants to help eliminate the hassle of parking and offer shoppers access to multiple shopping destinations as efficiently as possible.  To do this, Transit is piloting a program called Jingle Bell Express — a new holiday service that will take shoppers on a loop to four malls.

“The holidays can be stressful enough without trying to find parking,” says Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit. “We hope to make it a little easier for residents to get around leading up to the holidays and alleviate some of the stress that comes with Christmas shopping.”  

The Jingle Bell Express will be in operation from December 13th until December 23rd.  Regular fares will apply with the exception of Boxing Day when service on the Jingle Bell Express will be free.  Weekday service from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., weekend service from 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Boxing Day service from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  The Jingle Bell Express (route #1225) will travel between the following locations:

• Confederation Mall
• Lawson Heights Mall
• Centre Mall
• Market Mall   

Residents are encouraged to use the Transit app to find the bus stop closest to them. Individuals will be able to board the bus and pay using their usual method of payment or $3 in cash. This will be of particular advantage to families who purchase a day pass which will allow four people (max of two adults) to ride for a 24 hour period on the weekend for only $8.50.  Day passes can only be purchased at the Saskatoon Transit customer service office in the downtown terminal.

The Jingle Bell Express route and schedule will be available on the Transit app (route #1225). 

All those who use the service will be encouraged to take a short, 4 question survey and be entered to win one of four $100 gift cards to one of the participating malls.

At its November 20, 2017 meeting, Saskatoon City Council approved the Preferred Configuration for a re-envisioned transit system based around Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).  The report brought forward by Administration presents recommendations for an appropriately-sized future Bus Rapid Transit system that will support the City’s anticipated growth.  This approval provides direction to HDR to move forward in developing a Functional Plan that will further refine the scale and cost of the new Bus Rapid Transit System, and anticipated changes to existing transit services.

Starting December 1, the City of Saskatoon and HDR will launch the first round of conversations with the community regarding the Transit Plan project, to identify priorities and key factors that will need to be considered as the project moves into the next phases of design and implementation.  In addition to stakeholder meetings to identify specific functional requirements, the City and HDR have designed three distinct opportunities for the public and stakeholders to weigh in on this new system:

Online Engagement Survey | Opens: DEC 1, 2017 / Closes: DEC 15, 2017

A detailed online engagement survey will be available at https://www.saskatoon.ca/engage/transit-plan.  This survey is open to the public and will be sent to the City’s Citizen Advisory Panel, and to those subscribed to the Plan for Growth Newsletter updates.

Stakeholder Workshops | December 5 / 6, 2017

Stakeholders will be invited to RSVP to a number of workshops hosted by the City and HDR. Inc. designed to help understand the needs of those impacted most by the proposed changes.

Public Open House | December 6, 2017 – 5:30 – 8:00PM | La Troupe du Jour - 914 20th Street West

Join the City of Saskatoon and HDR as we share information on the Bus Rapid Transit Preferred Configuration and how these features are tailored specifically for Saskatoon.  We also want to share information on transit network principles and how the Bus Rapid Transit system will re-shape the Saskatoon Transit network.  We want to work with you to understand how these changes may affect you.

The next round of input on the Transit Plan is scheduled for January 2018.  To learn more, visit Saskatoon.ca/engage.

Background:

A full version of the Saskatoon Bus Rapid Transit Preferred Configuration report is available at saskatoon.ca/growth.  Below is a summary of the key recommendations outlined in the report:

1. Transit Signal Priority (TSP) – The preferred configuration for the Saskatoon BRT is to apply TSP at all beneficial locations.  Transit signal priority measures are considered the foundation of a BRT system. They can provide significant travel time and reliability improvements at a relatively low cost.  TSP uses existing infrastructure to determine the optimum way to limit bus delays at traffic signals.

2. Roadway Geometric Measures – The preferred configuration for the Saskatoon BRT is to apply roadway geometric measures at select beneficial locations.  Congestion within the Saskatoon road network occurs primarily at major intersections and bridge approaches. Geometric improvements such as queue jump lanes, bus bypass lanes, and other similar measures will provide buses with a time advantage at the most critical points along the corridor.

3. Stations – The preferred configuration for the Saskatoon BRT is to develop medium scaled stations that will accommodate 12 to 20 waiting customers in a safe, protected and well lit environment that will be seen as a positive influence on the public realm and adjacent community. Stations should have a common design theme; however, each one would be sized to accommodate the expected customer traffic at specific locations.

4. Customer Systems – The preferred configuration for the Saskatoon BRT customer systems is to provide good destination, wayfinding, route, schedule, next bus information, and security monitoring.  Off board fare processing could be added in the future.

5. Runningways – The preferred configuration for the Saskatoon BRT is to develop a mixed-traffic system with exclusive lanes in select short road sections along 3^rd Avenue in the downtown, Broadway Avenue, and College Drive.

For more information / to sign up for project updates please visit saskatoon.ca/growth.  Learn more about engagement opportunities by visiting saskatoon.ca/engage.

Downtown Saskatoon will be busy this Sunday for the Santa Claus Parade, avoid the traffic and parking stress by choosing Transit to attend. The real-time Transit App makes it easy to plan your trip downtown for the festivities. Just download the free Transit app to get up-to-date information of where to get on and what bus to take from your “current location” to downtown. 

Saskatoon Transit encourages the public to experience the convenience of public transit by using the real-time Transit or Google Maps apps.  These apps create customized route maps from wherever you are, without having to sort through schedules.    

Saskatoon Transit encourages Rush fans to avoid traffic and parking by taking public transit to the Saskatchewan Rush game on Saturday, November 18, 2017. Buses will leave from the Special Events Stop downtown (23rd Street and 2nd Avenue, outside 2nd Avenue Lofts) to SaskTel Centre at the following times:

• 5:45 p.m.
• 6:00 p.m.
• 6:20 p.m.
• 6:35 p.m.
• 6:55 p.m.
• 7:10 p.m.

Buses depart SaskTel Centre after the game as they fill up (around 9:15 p.m.). 

For regular schedules and other trip planning tools, visit saskatoontransit.ca.   

Saskatoon Transit, including Access Transit, will provide complimentary bus transportation to and from the 2017 Remembrance Day Ceremonies at SaskTel Centre on Saturday, November 11.  The free bus service will depart as follows:

Downtown Special Events Stop (23^rd Street & 2^nd Avenue) – buses will depart every 15 minutes between 9:00 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.

Market Mall – Departure from the mall transit terminal at 9:45 a.m.

Centre Mall – Departure from the mall transit terminal at 9:45 a.m.

Return trips will begin immediately following the close of ceremonies (approximately 12:15 p.m.).  Free service to and from SaskTel Centre will also be available for individuals using Access Transit (regular booking procedures apply).

For more information on Transit’s free Remembrance Day service, please call Transit Customer Service at 306.975.3100.

A special thank you to RBC Royal Bank for proudly sponsoring the free transit service.

Saskatoon Transit encourages the public to experience the convenience of public transit by using either the Transit or Google Maps app.  These apps help create customized route maps from wherever you are, without having to sort through schedules.    

For regular schedules and other trip planning tools, visit saskatoontransit.ca.