News Releases

The City of Saskatoon and Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) are responding to growing concerns about speeding in residential neighbourhoods with the introduction of a Residential Speed Management Program.

“We have been hearing from citizens that residential speeding is increasingly becoming an issue,” says Angela Gardiner, Director of Transportation. “It is of particular concern, given these roadways are often shared with pedestrians and cyclists, and are in close proximity to community gathering points such as schools and parks.”

The Residential Speed Management Program involves the City working with the SPS to identify and then address neighbourhood speeding using a variety of tools including speed boards, road signage, targeted police enforcement and public education.

After a review of concerns brought to the attention of City Administration and Police, as well as consultation with members of City Council, an initial list of 24 neighbourhoods across the city where residential speeding is a significant issue has been developed. A speeding blitz will begin in those neighbourhoods in February. Other problem areas will be added to the list as they are identified.

“We will be paying close attention to residential speeding in the coming weeks and cracking down on offenders,” says Inspector, Mitch Yuzdepski. “The blitz will begin in the neighbourhoods of Willowgrove, Hampton Village, Sutherland, Willows and Silverwood Heights, before moving on to the other priority locations over six weeks.”

The speed limit on all city streets is 50 km/h unless posted otherwise. Speeding tickets start at $120 and go up $10 for every 10 km/h over the speed limit.

“In some cases residential speeding can be attributed to lack of awareness about the speed limit,” says Gardiner. “Part of what we hope to accomplish through this program is to raise the awareness of the speed limit and tools such as speed boards and public education materials will help us do that.”

Citizens can report a concern and request an investigation by phone or by completing a brief report on the City’s website at Saskatoon.ca. Search for ‘Report a Neighbourhood Traffic Concern’ or call Transportation Customer Service at 306-975-2454.

Initial neighbourhoods to be prioritized include;

Sutherland, City Park, Caswell Hill, Montgomery Place, Riversdale, Pacific Heights, Confederation Park, Hampton Village, Dundonald/Westview, Mount Royal, Silverwood Heights, Lawson Heights, Grosvenor Park, Varsity View, Nutana, Willows, Avalon, Stonebridge, College Park East, Greystone Heights, Brevoort Park, Lakeview, Lakeridge and Willowgrove.

After the unseasonably warm temperatures of the last few weeks, the Saskatoon Fire Department decided to proactively test the ice thickness on city ponds to make sure that they are still more than 40cm (16 inches thick). Testing done on Tuesday, January 27, 2015, confirmed that the ice continues to be a safe thickness.

Ponds tested include Dundonald, RCAF, “Rat Hole”, Lakeview, the pond at Circle Drive and Clarence Ave., Stonebridge, Trounce, Briarwood, John Avant and Erindale.

The City of Saskatoon believes that an ice thickness of 40cm provides a reasonable level of security to residents wishing to use the ponds for recreational activities.

NEW

8TH ST WB LEFT TURN LANE TO LORNE AVE CLOSED
(Manhole inspection)
Lorne Ave NB median lane closed & SB left turn lanes approaching 8th St closed
Start: January 29, 2:00 a.m. End: January 29, 5:00 a.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 on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

ONGOING
4TH AVE N SB LANES CLOSED FROM QUEEN ST TO 26TH ST E
(Crane Lift)
Queen St 2-way traffic from 4th Ave to 5th Ave
Start: January 27, 9:00 a.m. End: January 28, 3:00 p.m.
25TH ST E WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM PACIFIC AVE TO IDYLWYLD DR N
(Directional Drilling)
Start: January 27, 9:00 a.m. End: January 28, 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 on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

International bond rating agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P) has again awarded the City of Saskatoon (City) its top rating of AAA/Stable.

“Standard and Poor’s has time and again approved of the way we plan City business,” says His Worship Mayor Donald Atchison. “At a time when many are focusing on government finances, S&P has had a look two years down the road and is confident Saskatoon will continue benefitting from a very strong economy.”

Every year S&P reviews the City’s finances and delivers a rating in a report based on that study.

“This is excellent news,” says Chief Financial Officer Kerry Tarasoff. “The triple-A rating continues to provide Saskatoon with the financial certainty we need as we grow forward toward half a million people.” 

“Saskatoon demonstrates strong financial management,” the agency notes.  As S&P continues to view the financial outlook for Saskatoon as stable, it further outlines part of this strength is grounded in a diverse local economy which is not tied as strongly to the resource sector.

The agency also points to the City’s transparency, audited financial statements, “good” budget documents and financing plans as other reasons to award the rating.

The City has received the AAA/stable credit rating every year for more than a decade.

Receiving the AAA credit rating essentially means that the City can borrow money at lower rates, and is viewed by financial institutions as having virtually no-risk with respect to defaulting on credit.

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.