News Releases

As financial close on the Parkway and Traffic Bridge project nears, the City and Graham Commuter Partners (GCP) are releasing details on the proposed design of the Traffic Bridge and a tentative construction schedule for the project.

“The new Traffic Bridge will be a four span arrangement, with new reinforced concrete piers constructed around the existing piers within the river,” says Dan Willems, Special Projects Manager with Major Projects. “The new bridge geometry will be similar to the existing bridge, however the bridge will be slightly wider and taller to accommodate wider traffic lanes, wider pathways on both sides, and overhead clearance for emergency vehicles.”

Once the City reaches financial close with GCP later this month, a report outlining the financial details of the proposal will be provided to City Council.

Subject to GCP obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals, they hope to start construction on both the Parkway and the Traffic Bridge in late 2015/early 2016. This includes approvals from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Transport Canada, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, Saskatchewan Water Security Agency, and the Meewasin Valley Authority.

Substantial completion of the project, whereby the bridges would be operational but not 100 per cent complete, remains October 2018. More details regarding the construction schedule will be provided in the coming weeks.

For more information, visit saskatoon.ca and search Bridging to Tomorrow.

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

NEW

NIGHT WORK: 33RD ST E EB/WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED FROM IDYLWYLD DR N TO QUEBEC AVE
(Sanitary sewer lining)
Start: October 15, 7:00 p.m. End: October 16, 6:00 a.m.

ONGOING

NIGHT WORK: IDYLWYLD DR NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED APPROACHING 1ST AVE
(Bridge maintenance)
Start: October 13, 7:00 p.m. End: October 16, 7:00 a.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: October 16, 6:00 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.

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.

The City of Saskatoon advises residents that City Hall will close at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, October 19, 2015 to allow employees the statutory time to vote in the federal election.

The Canada Elections Act requires employers allow employees three consecutive hours to vote.  This year, Saskatchewan’s voting hours are 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., which requires certain civic offices to close at 4:30 p.m.

The City’s seven Leisure Centres, three Municipal Golf Courses, Gordon Howe Campground, Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo, Saskatoon Transit, and Landfill operations will maintain their regular operating hours.

The City apologizes for any inconvenience, and will reopen for business at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 2015.  Online services at www.saskatoon.ca remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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.

The City of Saskatoon invites residents to participate in the closing round of public engagement for the Growth Plan to Half a Million (Growth Plan).

Join the conversation, either in person or online, to provide feedback on the proposed long-term plans and implementation priorities for a new transit system with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT); redevelopment along major corridors like 8^th Street, 22^nd Street, Preston Avenue, and College Drive; and a new river crossing connecting 33^rd Street to Preston Avenue, combined with dedicated BRT lanes on the University Bridge.

Detailed project information and an online survey will be available at www.growingfwd.ca until Sunday, November 8, 2015.

In addition to online engagement, two public open houses are being held for residents to learn more and provide feedback on the Growth Plan.

Growth Plan Come-and-Go Public Events
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Mayfair United Church, 902 33^rd Street West
4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 22, 2015
Saskatoon Field House, 2020 College Drive
4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Growth Plan Online Survey
October 14 to November 8, 2015
Review the final draft plan and provide feedback online at www.growingfwd.ca.

This will be the fourth and final round of public engagement for the Growth Plan.  Once complete, the Growth Plan will help guide future infrastructure investments and land-use decisions so residents will have more choices for how they live and move around the city as Saskatoon grows to half a million people over the next 30 to 40 years.

For more information on the Growth Plan or to sign up for project update notifications, visit www.growingfwd.ca.

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.

October 13, 2015 Committee Meeting

SPC on Environment, Utilities & Corporate Services  

7.2.1 2016 Green Cart Program (Matters Requiring Direction)

*The Committee is recommending to City Council at the 2016 Business Plan and Budget Review meeting that the 2016 Green Cart program allow subscribers to include food waste.
*The Committee further resolved that the Administration report to the 2016 Budget meeting with options for funding the expanded program without increasing the fees to users for the 2016 season.

Background
*Subscribers to the current Green Cart program were surveyed in July 2015. The results revealed high satisfaction with the current program with 70% having an interest in including food waste.
*Survey results also indicated that almost 90% of subscribers are satisfied with the frequency of pick-up (biweekly). Program cost is cited as an important consideration.
*The Administration recommends that the 2016 Green Cart program continue with biweekly collection from early May to early November, allowing food waste to be included.
*A rate increase to $70/subscriber is required to make the Green Cart program cost recovery for 6,000 subscribers.
*Education on how to minimize odours generated by the Green Cart program will be developed.

7.2.4 2015 Update to Our Environment: The City of Saskatoon’s Environmental Leadership Report (Matters Requiring Direction)

*The report will be forwarded to City Council for information.

Background
* The 2015 update to the City of Saskatoon’s ‘Our Environment’ Report is provided in the form of an online reporting tool highlighting the status of 12 selected indicators representing the key components of the state of Saskatoon’s environmental health – air, land, water and waste.
*Key findings include:

• The waste diversion rate for 2014 of 22.5% was relatively unchanged from the 2013 rate of 22.7% and needs improvement to meet the target of 70%.
• The amount of landfilled residential waste per capita is down to 249 kilograms per capita in 2014 from 340 kilograms per capita in 2007.
• The percentage of residents choosing to walk, cycle or take transit to work has been relatively stable between 11.5% and 14.4 % for the past two decades and needs improvement to meet the target of 20%.
• Saskatoon’s air quality has been showing a slow downward trend over the past decade, with the average Air Quality Index ranking as ‘Good’ over the past 5 years, down from the ranking of ‘Excellent’ that it has for the previous 5 years.
• The water quality both upstream and downstream of Saskatoon has consistently ranked as Good in the Water Quality Index since 2005.
• The amount and distribution of new development investment has been added as a baseline indicator and illustrates that investment in development activities are balanced across the city.

7.2.7 Parks Design, Construction, and Maintenance – Civic Service Review (Matters Requiring Direction)

*The report will be forwarded to City Council recommending:

• That the improved efficiencies and effectiveness in delivering the service as outlined in the report be received as information;
• That the Service Level for Parks Pathway Snow Clearing be increased to include snow clearing services to 14 kilometres of Naturalized Park pathways;
• That the Service Level for Shelterbelt/Buffer Strip Maintenance be increased so that a proactive service level that includes mowing, trimming and garbage pick-ups within the shelterbelt areas can be established; and
• That the Administration report on a Park Infrastructure Asset Management Plan including a funding strategy to achieve desired service levels.

Background
*The report provides an overview of the Parks Division Civic Service Review. The review explored opportunities for improvement within the design, construction, and maintenance of civic parks and open spaces. Implementation of these findings will improve service to citizens, increase the efficiency of park design, construction and maintenance, and improve accuracy in budgeting for the Parks Division. Additionally, the report recommended Service Levels for Parks Pathway Snow Clearing and Shelterbelt/Buffer Strip Maintenance.