News Releases

Saskatoon Transit riders can soon expect to experience greater comfort, reliability and accessibility on every commute. As part of a larger plan to continue improving its service in the city, Saskatoon Transit is unveiling the first buses which are part of a complete fleet renewal strategy.

“We’re going to reduce the overall age of our transit fleet by five years and customers will notice the difference,” says Jim McDonald, Director of Transit. “It’s also more cost effective to operate newer buses over their life span because we don’t have to rely as much on extra maintenance and back-up buses.”

Over the next 10 years, Transit will:

• Reduce its average bus age from 11.9 to 7.3 years, thereby reducing maintenance costs and the size of the fleet given that fewer “spares” are required;
• Provide full accessibility on every bus, along every route;
• Offer air conditioning and other improved amenities on every bus; and
• Increase capacity on busy routes by tripling the number of articulating buses.

Transit currently maintains a fleet of 158 buses, including 100 allotted to daily routes and 58 spares—a spare ratio of 58 per cent. Through its fleet upgrade, Saskatoon Transit will be able to reduce its spare ratio to 33 per cent by 2020 which will greatly reduce operating and maintenance costs.

McDonald stresses the new buses will provide riders with up-to-date transportation consistent with a modern, service-focused transit provider. Some of these improved amenities include: wider aisles, ergonomically designed seating, larger windows, better lighting, automated stop announcements, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

“We’ve seen $75,000 a year in fuel savings from the new buses purchased over the last five years, so we can anticipate even more of those efficiencies,” McDonald says. “Our fleet renewal strategy will get us to where we need to be and deliver the kind of service Saskatoon residents expect.”

Beginning Tuesday, October 13, 2015, the Landfill will be open 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, excluding Christmas Day and New Year’s Day when the facility is closed.

Residents and commercial customers are invited to use the Landfill, which is located by way of Valley Road, south of 11th Street. 

Advise the scale attendant if you are bringing in recyclables, as some materials can be recycled for free.  Please follow all signs and/or instructions from Landfill staff.

For more information about the Landfill, including service alerts, and the City’s Waste and Recycling programs, visit saskatoon.ca/garbage. 

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

NEW

8TH ST E CLOSED AT EMERSON AVE
(Ground water sampling)
Start: October 8, 9:00 a.m. End: October 9, 3:00 p.m.

ONGOING

WANUSKEWIN RD SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT MARQUIS DR
(Roadwork)
Start: October 7, 9:00 a.m. End: October 8, 6:00 p.m.

33RD ST E WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 1ST AVE N TO QUEBEC AVE
(Unloading)
Start: October 1, 9:00 a.m. End: October 9, 4:00 p.m.

33RD ST E CLOSED BETWEEN 5TH AVE N AND WARMAN RD
(Primary water main repair)
Start: September 8, 9:00 a.m. End: October 9, 5:00 p.m.

NIGHT WORK: 1ST AVE NB EXIT RAMP CLOSED AT SID BUCKWOLD BRIDGE
(Expansion joint repair)
Start: October 5, 7:00 p.m. End: October 10, 7:00 a.m.

AIRPORT DR NB/SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED AT CLAYPOOL DR
(Road construction)
Claypool Dr WB closed from Airport Dr to McClocklin Rd
Start: September 15, 7:00 a.m. End: October 27, 6:00 p.m.

MELVILLE ST CLOSED FROM LORNE AVE & BRAND RD
(Force main installation)
Start: August 24, 7:00 a.m. End: October 30, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR N/HIGHWAY 16 NB & SB LANE RESTRICTIONS FROM 51ST ST E TO MARQUIS DR W
(Hwy 16 flyover repair)
Hwy 11/12 SB median lane closed at overpass
Start: July 13, 9:00 a.m. End: October 31, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN 19TH ST & SID BUCKWOLD BRIDGE
(Bridge maintenance)
1st Ave SB curb lane closed between 19th St & Sid Buckwold Bridge
Start: September 14, 7:00 a.m. End: November 6, 6:00 p.m.

HWY 16 WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT ZIMMERMAN RD
(Road reconstruction)
Start: September 16, 7:00 a.m. End: November 15, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

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 and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

NEW

CIRCLE DR S WB CURB (OUTSIDE) & MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED AT IDYLWYLD DR S
(Crack filling)
Start: October 7, 9:00 a.m. End: October 7, 12:00 p.m.

WANUSKEWIN RD SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT MARQUIS DR
(Roadwork)
Start: October 7, 9:00 a.m. End: October 8, 6:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR S WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT VALLEY RD
(Storm sewer inspection)
Start: October 7, 12:30 p.m. End: October 7, 3:00 p.m.

ONGOING

8TH ST E EB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM CUMBERLAND AVE TO GROSVENOR AVE
(Sewer maintenance)
Start: October 5, 10:00 p.m. End: October 6, 7:00 a.m.

33RD ST E CLOSED BETWEEN 5TH AVE N AND WARMAN RD
(Primary water main repair)
Start: September 8, 9:00 a.m. End: October 9, 5:00 p.m.

AIRPORT DR NB/SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED AT CLAYPOOL DR
(Road construction)
Claypool Dr WB closed from Airport Dr to McClocklin Rd
Start: September 15, 7:00 a.m. End: October 27, 6:00 p.m.

MELVILLE ST CLOSED FROM LORNE AVE & BRAND RD
(Force main installation)
Start: August 24, 7:00 a.m. End: October 30, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR N/HIGHWAY 16 NB & SB LANE RESTRICTIONS FROM 51ST ST E TO MARQUIS DR W
(Hwy 16 flyover repair)
Hwy 11/12 SB median lane closed at overpass
Start: July 13, 9:00 a.m. End: October 31, 5:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED BETWEEN 19TH ST & SID BUCKWOLD BRIDGE
(Bridge maintenance)
1st Ave SB curb lane closed between 19th St & Sid Buckwold Bridge
Start: September 14, 7:00 a.m. End: November 6, 6:00 p.m.

HWY 16 WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED AT ZIMMERMAN RD
(Road reconstruction)
Start: September 16, 7:00 a.m. End: November 15, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

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 and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

As we near the end of the summer construction season and the 2015 Respect Work Zones campaign, the City is considering ways to make work zones safer for next year. These steps could include the use of larger, immovable barriers, and the possibility of a move to full street closures that would eliminate the single lane of traffic alongside construction sites.

“Although there have been some noticeable safety improvements with our short-term or moving work sites, many drivers still continue to disobey signage and enter active work zones at medium and longer-term sites,” says Angela Gardiner, Director of Transportation. “To make sure workers are safe, we have to consider stricter measures for next construction season.”

Work has been steadily progressing throughout the city on high traffic and residential streets. There have been few disruptions or schedule adjustments thanks to an overall favourable construction season, however there are still dozens of disruptions to work zone safety that happen each day. Most issues arise from:

• Drivers ignoring ‘Local Access Only’ signage which indicate only motorists with a destination on that street may enter;
• Drivers moving traffic barriers which protect workers and sites that may contain curing materials or work zone hazards;
• Drivers failing to reduce their speed and thereby increasing the likelihood of an accident with a worker or construction zone hazard.

Drivers have been charged for unsafe driving in a work zone even where there is no police presence. Work site cameras and workers record and report licence plates when safety is compromised.

“We would also like to remind everyone that just because work doesn’t appear to be underway in a construction zone, it doesn’t mean it’s complete,” says Gardiner. ”Because of many steps that can be involved in road work – paving for example, which takes time to cool and cure – it’s still considered an active work zone if signage and or barriers are in place.”

Despite challenges with work zone safety, the City has seen improvement at short-term/moving sites. This success has been attributed to better short-term work zone signage, crews using more safety cones and other site-marker tools, and more rigorous safety inspection requirements throughout each stage of a job. The City’s Respect Work Zones campaign also contributes to heightened awareness about work zone safety.

“Even when the summer construction season is complete, drivers will continue to see smaller work zones during the winter months,” says Gardiner. “These areas typically have less advance warning due to their emergency nature, but they still require full work zone safety compliance.”

The City would like to thank the citizens of Saskatoon for their patience during this construction season, and to urge everyone to respect work zones and obey work zone signage.

For more information, visit saskatoon.ca and search Respect Work Zones.

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 and with #betterroadsYXE.