News Releases

For Immediate Release:  March 18, 2014
 

Today, The City of Saskatoon launched Building Better Roads – Saskatoon’s Road Plan, the most aggressive program of road work in this community’s history. 

“The Building Better Roads Plan demonstrates that we are heading into an action-packed season of roadwork,” Jeff Jorgenson, General Manager of Transportation and Utilities says. “More than $50 million will be spent on Saskatoon roads this year; that’s 47 per cent more than was spent last year. We want everyone to be ready because the result will be more projects this construction season, meaning more work zones and traffic detours.” 

The Building Better Roads Plan grew out of the 2013 Civic Services Survey which identified road conditions as the single most important issue facing Saskatoon.  

City Council responded by introducing the Dedicated Road Levy in this year’s budget, providing the necessary funding to launch the Building Better Roads Plan. The Plan supports the City of Saskatoon’s strategic goals of Asset and Financial Sustainability, Quality of Life, Continuous Improvement and Moving Around. 

The Dedicated Road Levy is funded by a 4.29% increase in property taxes for 2014 which provides $6.7 million in new funding to be used exclusively for road repair and road maintenance. 

“The Dedicated Road Levy is a key element of investing substantially more in our roads for 2014.  The Dedicated Road Levy and added investments will go toward work such as street sweeping, pothole patching, sidewalk rehabilitation, back lane upgrades, road construction and repair, as well as snow and ice management,” Jorgenson says. 

“We take this investment seriously. This year citizens will see changes in how we do our work.  For example, to minimize the amount of time high-traffic roads are closed for construction, much of the work will either be done at night, or round-the-clock. Continually improving our practices will ensure we get the absolute best value for our citizens’ dollars.” 

Jorgenson adds extra workers and equipment have already started with increased snow grading and removal activities and will soon flow into aggressive pothole patching and street sweeping.  

In the coming weeks, the City will be launching new ways for people to keep up to date where and when work is being done. 

We are also pleased to launch a new “Report a Pothole” tool which allows the public to report potholes online. This Report a Pothole tool is map-based, GPS-enabled and allows anyone to report a pothole from their desktop computer or mobile device. Users will be able to see if the same pothole has already been flagged, and when potholes are repaired. Residents can find this tool on our website at Saskatoon.ca under “check this out.” It’s designed to be easy to use, and a detailed help menu and step-by-step video is also included. 

In an emergency or to talk directly to customer service staff, potholes can also be reported by phone 24/7, at 306-975-2476. 

“We’ve already been repairing the larger potholes since the snow started melting. And as soon as weather permits, the spring pothole blitz will be in full force,” Jorgenson says. “We’re anticipating the streets will be dry earlier than last year because so much snow and ice along priority roadways was trucked away this winter.”  

City crews will  concentrate on patching potholes in all driving lanes on freeways and other high traffic roads including tackling those larger clusters of potholes. Immediately following spring street sweeping, eight patching crews will constantly patrol Saskatoon throughout the summer, keeping roads smooth, including fixing potholes on residential streets.  He says a cold, temporary asphalt mix will be used on potholes until the streets dry and the weather improves, following which a more permanent hot asphalt mix will be used. 

The spring pothole blitz is a key component of Building Better Roads – Saskatoon’s Roads Plan.

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.

On March 29, 2014 at 8:30 p.m., the City of Saskatoon will be taking part in Earth Hour - a global event to acknowledge the importance of environmental awareness and action both during and beyond the hour.

This year, the City of Saskatoon has created an Online Earth Hour forum on shapingsaskatoon.ca. “Businesses, organizations, students and community members are encouraged to post why they feel Earth Hour is important and what they’re doing this year to participate.

“Our collective efforts raise awareness of climate change and promote actions that conserve energy and help reduce GHG emissions.” says Brenda Wallace, Director of Environmental & Corporate Initiatives.  “Celebrating and acknowledging these efforts is part of creating a more sustainable Saskatoon.”

FREE Transit March 29, 2014

As a way of showing support for action on climate change, Saskatoon Transit is offering free transit on March 29 from 7:30 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. Reduce your footprint and save money by giving transit a try!

“Saskatoon Transit is once again proud to participate in the Earth Hour initiative by providing free Transit service from 7:30pm until last bus on March 29, 2014,” says Bob Howe, Director of Saskatoon Transit.  “This free service will provide citizens who may not have tried Transit in that past, with an opportunity to try it free of charge. For our regular Transit Customers, this event is another way of saying thank you for using Saskatoon Transit.” 

Post Your Photos Online

The City of Saskatoon is encouraging residents to show the world how they’re participating in Earth Hour. Residents can simply post their Earth Hour photos to their own Facebook or Twitter accounts using the hashtag #yxeEarthHour to show how they're taking action on climate change. Two lucky winners will be drawn to receive a 1 month bus pass and transit promo prize pack from Saskatoon Transit!

In 2013, the City of Saskatoon partnered with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society to engage businesses and City Facilities in Earth Hour. There were 205 participants who took part by: dimming or turning out lights, shutting down computers and other electronics, lowering their thermostats, engaging their employees and clients in environmental action, or hosting events.

To find out more about the City of Saskatoon’s participation in Earth Hour, please visit Saskatoon.ca and search under “E” for Earth Hour.

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 (City) reminds residents that the public survey and forum for the first stage of the Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon project will remain open for input until Friday, March 21, 2014, at www.shapingsaskatoon.ca.

Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon is a city-wide initiative that will take us from vision to action on how we shape the City’s Growth Plan to Half a Million. It is a proactive way to plan for our future and help navigate the challenges associated with rapid population growth. The Growth Plan to Half a Million will help guide civic investments over the next 30 to 40 years by addressing three key elements:

Shaping Growth - How do we grow along major corridors?
Shaping Transit - How do we move more people?
Shaping Bridges - How do we manage infrastructure investments?

A public event was held on Tuesday, February 25, 2014, at TCU Place to start the discussion about future options for transit, bridges, and growth along major corridors. Event materials and project information are available on the Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon website at www.growingfwd.ca.  

Your feedback is important to us!  Public consultation will be ongoing throughout the Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon process. The survey is one of many opportunities for the public to get involved in this exciting initiative.  Watch for more public input opportunities coming in the Fall.  Those interested can also sign up for project update notifications at 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.

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A major amendment to the Rosewood Neighbourhood Concept Plan is proposed to accommodate a number of changes to the east side of the neighbourhood.  The amendment will provide for the inclusion of lands east of Zimmerman Road as an employment area consisting of commercial and light industrial land uses.  Also proposed are changes to the layout and land use pattern of the eastern portion of the neighbourhood, including new opportunities for higher density residential and mixed-use development along corridors.  Roadway access to the neighbourhood from Highway 16, previously proposed to be via Rosewood Gate South, is now proposed for Zimmerman Road.

The proposed changes will add 152 acres to the neighbourhood, bringing the total area to 876 acres.  The original concept plan, approved by City Council in 2008, projected a total neighbourhood population of 10,657 residents.  The proposed amendment would result in approximately 11,890 residents.

Amendments to the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw related to this concept plan amendment are also proposed.

The public is invited to attend a “come-and-go” open house to view the proposed amendment to the Rosewood Neighbourhood Concept Plan and to ask questions of the City of Saskatoon staff and development partners.

Proposed Rosewood Neighbourhood Concept Plan Amendment Open House
Thursday, March 20, 2014
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Elim Church (Atrium)
419 Slimmon Road

Can’t make the open house?  Visit www.shapingsaskatoon.ca/discussions from March 20 to April 3 to view details of the proposals and to share your thoughts. 

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.

For Immediate Release:  March 16, 2014

At approximately 7:30 a.m., March 16, 2014 a vehicle struck an electrical pole on the 100 block of 111th Street W in the Sutherland neighbourhood. As a result, nearly 1,300 homes and businesses were left without power early Sunday morning.

Saskatoon Light & Power crews were on the scene shortly after power was disrupted, assessed the situation and are expecting to be able to restore power to most of the affected homes and businesses by early afternoon.  However, due to the extent of the damage, crews are anticipating that 30-40 homes and businesses between 110th Street and 111th Street will be without power for up to six hours while the entire pole is replaced.

Updates are being issued through Service Alerts and through the City’s social media feeds.  Residents can also phone customer service at 306-975-2621. 

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.