News Releases

The driver of a large pickup, which last September struck a City crew truck, has been fined and prohibited from driving for a year.

Following a guilty plea in Provincial Court, the accused was sentenced March 29 and ordered to pay a fine of $2,100 plus a $900 victim surcharge for a total fine amount of $3,000.

The driver will also be on probation for a year following the license suspension.

City workers were painting crosswalks along College Drive when it happened near Munroe Avenue in the early morning of Friday, September 2, 2016.

One worker had just stepped out of the truck to set up the work zone when he heard a loud vehicle approaching. Luckily, the worker managed to jump to the side before the pickup collided with the City half-ton.

The second City worker in the driver’s seat hit his head on the steering wheel from the impact.

The crash had so much force it pushed the City truck ahead another 10 metres (see photos below).

A reminder to motorists, City crews are out this week line painting on high traffic roads during evening and overnight hours starting at 7p.m. until 7a.m. The City asks motorists to proceed with caution around these areas, and to respect work zones.

As a result of the City’s most recent periodic review of speed limits, Administration is proposing changes to the speed limits on 8 sections of Saskatoon roadways. Additionally, new speed limits are being proposed for 4 sections of roadway that are either new or about to experience new uses and travel patterns.

Many of the changes being proposed are in the vicinity of the North Commuter Parkway in anticipation of the bridge’s opening in 2018. The maximum allowable speed is determined based on road classification (e.g. commuter or residential), adjacent land use, reported driver behaviour, and safety concerns.

“Our objective is to establish speed limits that help keep the flow of traffic moving as quickly as is safe,” says Jay Magus, Acting Director of Transportation. “The speed limits need to be reasonable based on the road classification and design so that drivers aren’t experiencing unnecessary frustration, but are also able to navigate the roadways at a speed that keeps them in control.”

Some of the changes being proposed are as follows:

• Speed reduction from 60 km/h to 50 km/h:

• Central Avenue north of Somers Road to Agra Road
• McOrmond Drive from Fedoruk Drive to east of Lowe Road
• Millar Avenue from 60^th Street to 71^st Street

• Speed increase from 50 km/h to 60 km/h on Fedoruk Drive from Central Avenue to McOrmond Drive
• Speed reduction from 80 km/h to 60 km/h on Zimmerman Road north of Highway 16

The proposed changes will be considered by the City’s Special Policy Committee on Transportation later today (Sept. 11). If adopted, the changes are expected to take effect this fall.

Saskatoon Transit buses will leave the Special Events stop downtown (at 23^rd Street and 2^nd Avenue, outside 2^nd Avenue Lofts) to service the Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA) at SaskTel Centre on Sunday, September 10^th at the following times:

3:30 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

4:10 p.m.

4:25 p.m.

4:45 p.m.

Return buses will depart directly after the show.

Saskatoon Transit encourages everyone taking in pre-award show events at Prairieland Park to consider using Transit.

• CCMA Rock’n Country Cabaret - Friday, September 8

• Route 1 from the downtown terminal to the Exhibition grounds at 6:31 p.m. and every hour until 11:31 p.m.  The last trip is at 12:14 a.m.
• The last bus leaving Hilliard Street and Ruth Street to get other buses is at 11:48 p.m.
• Route 19 runs from downtown to Lorne Ave and Ruth Street at 7:16 p.m. and every hour until 11:16 p.m.
• The last bus leaving Taylor Street and Lorne Avenue will be at 12:05 a.m.

• SiriusXM FanFest - Saturday, September 9

• Route 1 runs from downtown hourly before 10:31 a.m. then every half hour until 5:31 p.m.
• Route 19 runs from the downtown terminal hourly before 11:16 a.m. then every half hour until 5:46 p.m.

Transit route information can be found at transit.saskatoon.ca, or by calling the Transit Information Line at 306-975-7500.  Citizens can also plan their trip on the Transit or Google Maps App on their mobile device.  

For more information about Saskatoon Transit, visit saskatoontransit.ca or follow @StoonTransit on Twitter. Plan your route in advance using any of the following tools: Saskatoon Transit Trip Planner, Google Transit Trip Planner, or the Transit App on your mobile device.

The City is approximately five months into the construction of two new interchanges on Saskatoon’s east side. The Saskatoon Interchange Project, which involves the construction of an interchange at Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 and an interchange at McOrmond Drive and College Drive, began in April.

“Projects like these interchanges not only help people get around faster and more safely, they help drive our economy today and lay the foundations of growth tomorrow,” says the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “I'm pleased that work is well underway. Working together, the City, province and the federal government are achieving results for the community.”

The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan are each contributing up to $10,960,885 to the Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 Interchange through the Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component – National and Regional Projects.

“The Government of Saskatchewan is pleased to play a role in helping improve safety for motorists and easing traffic congestion in Saskatoon by investing over $10.9 million toward the Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 project,” says the Honourable Larry Doke, Minister of Government Relations.

The Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 interchange is scheduled to open in the summer of 2019.

“At the Boychuk Drive and Highway 16 Interchange, the temporary intersection is functioning allowing the permanent works to proceed,” says Mike Gutek, City of Saskatoon Special Projects Manager of Major Projects and Preservation. “There is much work ahead, with only 25% complete so far, however it has been a good start.”

At the McOrmond Drive and College Drive interchange site, required underground service work is ongoing and a temporary intersection and adjoining roads, which will be in place until the new interchange opens, will open Sunday, September 10. All traffic movements will be maintained, however delays are anticipated and the City encourages drivers to allow themselves extra time, consider alternate routes, or travel outside of peak hours. 

“While work on this interchange is behind schedule, the contractor is working to finalize a plan to be back on track for an October 2018 completion. These are risky projects and if the schedule is not met, the contract has consequences, although typically only monetary,” Gutek says.

Surrounding developers are funding 100 per cent of the McOrmond Drive and College Drive interchange. Once open, both interchanges will ease traffic flow and also include pedestrian and cyclist pathways.

Drivers are reminded that the speed limit through both construction sites is 60 km/h.

Visit saskatoon.ca/interchanges for project updates, alternate route maps, and to see 3D renderings.

September 5, 2017 Meeting
 

7.1.2 Request for Direct Sale of Former Railway Spurline

Decision

*The Committee approved the direct sale of former railway spurline land located west of Wentz Avenue between 47^th and 48^th Street, to several adjacent property owners and for the preparation and execution of the necessary agreements.

Background

*Development in the North Industrial area began in the 1950’s. In 1966, the City and Canadian National Railway Company (CNR) entered into an agreement for the provision of rail service throughout the North Industrial area. The area was subdivided with many 54’ wide corridors for CNR to construct and operate railway spur trackage, known as spurlines. Although CNR provided rail service via these spurlines, the City retained ownership of the land. Since demand for rail service has declined, many CNR rail service siding agreements have been cancelled resulting in several spurlines being abandoned and left vacant. At its meeting held on April 21, 2008, City Council approved the direct sale of an abandoned railway spurline between 48th and 50th Street in the North Industrial area.

7.1.6 Proposed Elk Point Neighbourhood

Decision

*The Committee will be forwarding the report to City Council with recommendations that the information be received and forwarded to the SPC on Planning, Development and Community Services for information, and that there be consideration of a review by the internal auditor of the approval process relating to this matter, and that the costs to audit this matter be provided prior to approval to proceed with such an audit as this would be an addition to the audit plan.

Background

*At its meeting on May 1, 2017, the Standing Policy Committee on Planning, Development and Community Services received an information report on the Proposed Elk Point Neighbourhood Concept Plan. During the review of the plan, it was noted that significant development activity had occurred within the Elk Point boundary. The Committee resolved that the wetland section of the report be forwarded to the Saskatoon Environmental Advisory Committee (SEAC) for their feedback before the report goes to City Council. In addition, further information has been requested from the Administration regarding improvements within the Elk Point development area.