News Releases

September 7, 2016 Meeting

7.2.1 High School Bus Passes – Tammy Jensen

Decision

* The Committee recommended to City Council:
-That the age limit of 21 for eligibility to purchase High School Student fares, rides (tickets) and passes be eliminated.
-That the change be effective September 1, 2016.
-That the City Solicitor be directed to amend The Transit Fares Amendment Bylaw No. 9078 as outlined in the report.

Background

*A speaker at the November 9, 2015 SPC on Transportation meeting requested that the current age limit of 21 for eligibility to purchase the high school bus pass be removed.
*Saskatoon Transit Administration met with the School Boards on the matter.

7.2.2 Inquiry – Councillor Hill (April 25, 2016) Transit and the Saskatoon School Divisions

Decision

*The Committee recommended the report be forwarded to City Council as information.

Background

*The report provides an update on the possibility of increasing ridership while at the same time providing support for school divisions to decrease operating costs.
*Administration and both Saskatoon School Boards have met to consult about the various suggestions in the original inquiries.
*The School Boards were interested in some of the suggestions and have agreed to work with Saskatoon Transit to develop proposals.

September 7, 2016 Meeting

7.2.1 Inquiry – Councillor Jeffries (January 25, 2016) Options for Assistance – Front Street Garbage and Recycling on Streets with Significant Parking

Decision

*The Committee recommended to City Council:
-That the information be received.
-That the Administration be directed to report back to City Council in December 2017 with updated information once a full study has been completed.
-That the Administration consider a two-person collection crew on select collection routes.

Background

*The following inquiry was made by Councillor Jeffries: “Residents on some streets have trouble setting out their garbage and recycling bins because there are no areas available with sufficient distance from parked vehicles to guarantee bin pick-up. Could Administration please report back on options to help residents with the problem of front-street garbage and recycling pick-up on streets with significant use of on-street parking."
*Administration is studying multiple options to address collection on streets with significant parking.
*Administration will prepare a recommendation following evaluation of all options with a complete life cycle value analysis.
*When a more comprehensive report is submitted in December, Administration will seek City Council’s direction on whether or not to proceed further with this initiative, which will involve significant citizen engagement.

September 6, 2016 Meeting

6.1.1 Snow & Ice Management Program, Value for Money Report, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Decision

*The Committee receive the report as information.

Background

*The value for money engagement was conducted to determine whether program management is achieving economically, efficiently, and effectively in the manner in which they are operating.
*The report found the Snow & Ice Management Program of the City of Saskatoon is evolving and its ability to better track program data on a continual basis is improving.
*As a result of performing this value for money engagement of the Snow & Ice Management Program, PricewaterhouseCoopers concluded the program in place is effective in achieving the objectives set by management and the program is achieving economy and efficiency.

September 13, 2016 Meeting

10.1 2017 Business Plan and Budget Process

Decision

The Governance and Priorities Committee resolved:

*That the resolution of the Governance and Priorities Committee of April 18, 2016 endorsing the proposed process for the 2017 Business Plan and Budget, be rescinded.
*That Phase 4 outlined in Attachment 1 of the report of the City Manager dated April 18, 2016 be amended and endorsed to reflect that the Administration will table the proposed 2017 Business Plan and Budget at a special meeting of the Governance and Priorities Committee to be held on Monday, November 7, 2016 at 1:00 p.m.
*That a special meeting of the Governance and Priorities Committee be held on Monday, September 19, 2016 at 12 noon to receive an update report from the Administration on the 2017 Business Plan and Budget.

Additional Information

*Councillor Charlie Clark moved for the release of the proposed budget prior to the 2017 Municipal Elections.
*City Council voted unanimously in April 2016 to endorse the 2017 Budget Plan put forward by Administration to release the preliminary budget at the Governance and Priorities Committee on November 21, 2016.

With only about a week of actual summer left, City and contractor crews are working around the clock to complete the ambitious list of construction projects on Saskatoon’s roads.

“The City’s top priority is to improve the overall condition of the road network and we continue to look for ways to rehabilitate as many roads as possible, with the least impact to drivers,” says Angela Gardiner, Director of Transportation. “By strategically packaging projects and leveraging on advances in technology, we are getting better pricing, completing more work and achieving more work hours in a season.”

Night work is a major contributor to the progress because it allows large projects to be completed with minimal disruption to commuters. About 45 of the 233 lane kilometers planned for this construction season have been done at night – that’s about the distance from City Hall to Delisle.

Night work typically occurs between 8:00 pm and 6:00 am on high-traffic roads where noise doesn’t interrupt residential areas, primarily in warmer months if water trucks, paving and concrete products are required. There are exceptions for some water and sewer projects, street sweeping and snow operations that can pass through residential areas quickly and quietly during overnight hours. 

So far this summer, the following projects have been completed overnight:

• Paving on 8th Street between Preston Avenue & Arlington Avenue
• Paving on Circle Drive overpass & ramps at Idylwyld Drive
• Paving on College Drive at Preston Avenue  
• Washing and sealing on all bridges and overpasses
• Painting crosswalk and lane markings  on high volume roadways
• Repairing guardrail and chain link fencing
• Street sweeping on high-traffic streets and Business Improvement Districts

Ongoing projects include:

• Paving on College Drive pedestrian overpass
• Paving on Faithful Avenue between Circle Drive & 50th Street

Year-round night work programs include:

• Emergency road maintenance
• Pothole repairs and utility cut maintenance
• Debris pickup
• Drainage on roads and at catch basins
• Median cleaning  
• Snow grading, removal and storage
• Ice management

“We will continue to look for opportunities to perform work on the road at night as long as we can do it safely,” says Gardiner. “It is imperative that drivers remain focused, pay attention to their surroundings and expect to see work zone signs at any time of day or night.”

As always, drivers are reminded to slow down, pay attention and obey signage around work zones at all times. For more information, please visit saskatoon.ca/betterroads. 

Video of recent night work is available here: Night Construction Work

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Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information and subscribe to Traffic Detour Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert.