Saskatoon Engages with City’s BRT and Future Transit System Plan

From October to December 2017, the City of Saskatoon and HDR Corporation launched the first round of conversations with the community around the future transit system based around bus rapid transit (BRT). Over the course of the three months, over 976 stakeholders were engaged through: an online survey, stakeholder workshops, open house, and one-on-one meetings. Presentations, display boards, concepts and maps gave participants a chance to envision a transit system that will meet the future needs of a city of half a million.

What We Heard (Download Consultation Summary: Fall 2017)

The feedback from each of these engagement activities will help HDR and the City understand the needs of those impacted most by these changes. HDR is currently incorporating the feedback into BRT planning and design work and Transit Route Network Reconfiguration planning work.

“In the workshops and at the public open house we have heard that our City is passionate about change, and that people want to talk about how a new Transit System supported by Bus Rapid Transit will help us achieve our Plan for Growth. HDR has presented a strong path forward, but this is just the start. As a City we have lots of great conversations ahead of us – we have to do this together as a community.” – Lesley Anderson, Director of Planning & Development, City of Saskatoon

“These conversations are critical to ensuring success in the next phases of BRT and transit network planning. I couldn’t be happier with the response we received from the public. What we heard through the online survey as well as public and stakeholder conversations provides valuable information and insight for our team. We want to plan and design a transit system that the community will use, and that starts by designing with Saskatoon residents in mind.” – John Hubbell, Transportation Lead, HDR Corporation.

What’s Next?

The next round of input on the BRT and Transit System Plan will include:

Stakeholder Workshops

February 7/8, 2018, TCU Place

Public Come & Go Event

DATE:  February 7, 2018

TIME:  5:30 - 8:00PM

LOCATION:  TCU Place, Regal B (35 22nd Street East)

To learn more, visit Saskatoon.ca/engage.

Project Background

In April 2016, Saskatoon City Council approved the Growth Plan to Half a Million which includes plans for a re-envisioned transit system based around Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and a Transit Route Network Reconfiguration as well as infill at strategic locations and along major corridors.

The City then created a Ten Year Action Plan to advance a number of the Growth Plan core initiatives. A number of Plan for Growth projects are advancing through contributions from the Federal Government’s Public Transportation Infrastructure (PTIF) Fund:

• Transit Plan
  • Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
  • Transit Route Network Reconfiguration
• Corridor Growth
  • Transit Villages Concept Plans
  • Corridor Planning Program
  • Brownfield Renewal Strategy

For more information / to sign up for project updates please visit: saskatoon.ca/growth.