News Releases

The City of Saskatoon today announced its construction zone safety campaign, Respect Work Zones, urging drivers to obey signs and follow posted detours while passing construction zones this summer.

“Respecting a work zone is not just about slowing down, it’s obeying posted signage,” says Angela Gardiner, Director of Transportation. “We rely on the participation of drivers to keep workers safe. A variety of measures have been used on our side to ensure everyone’s safety; we count on drivers to meet us the rest of the way by obeying signs and staying out of work zones.”

Through programs like enhanced work zone setups, public education and increased safety training for our workers, the City has been able to record its lowest level of lost-time injuries for city workers in 2015. This shows safety is a top priority in work done by City employees for citizens, a trend that is the result of an increasingly successful safety culture. 

At times construction work may appear halted or complete, but construction signs and barriers are kept in place where the roads are hazardous to drivers. Projects that include night work have signs and speed reductions around work zones that remain in place 24 hours a day. It’s important to obey signage even when there are no vehicles or workers present and never enter a work zone or drive past signage even if it appears complete or inactive.

“The wellbeing of our employees is a priority in everything we do’” says Gardiner. “The Respect Work Zones campaign is an important message as we continue to build better roads. The work zone signs are there for your protection. And ours.

This year, through the Building Better Roads program, $59 million is being invested to build, maintain and repair more roads than ever before, which means more construction zones. Respecting these work zones will allow crews to focus on the job and safely complete this summer’s projects.

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.

Each year, the Project Management Institute, North Saskatchewan Chapter (PMI-NSC) recognizes one project that best demonstrates exceptional performance, leadership and delivers significant value and return on investment for the customer.  This year, the City of Saskatoon’s Neighbourhood Traffic Review program was awarded this prestigious honour for its community-wide approach to resolving traffic issues that is built around finding solutions through engagement with residents.                                                                                                                

“Rather than looking at each traffic issue individually, we take a step back and consider the traffic movements, safety requirements and culture within the entire community,” explains Angela Gardiner, Acting General Manager of Transportation and Utilities. “We encourage people to take an active role in the traffic review process for their neighbourhood so we can hear about issues that matter to them.”

A typical neighbourhood traffic review is a complex, year-long process aimed at improving the quality of life in the neighbourhood by making adjustments to how people use local and collector streets. The process begins with community meetings to collect feedback on issues such as speed, pedestrian safety, traffic volume and short cutting. In addition, residents can also provide feedback through online forums.

Studies are then conducted to measure vehicular speed, traffic volume and pedestrian usage, which are analyzed and used to develop recommendations presented for feedback by residents. The City completes eight neighbourhood traffic reviews each year.

“Each Saskatoon neighbourhood is unique and this approach allows us to get right to the core of the issue,” says Gardiner. “Our approach values the feedback of the people who are using the area every day to help solve the issue.”

The City was presented with the “Project of the Year” award today at the PMI-NSC Annual General Meeting.  

Learn more about the City’s engagement process at saskatoon.ca/shapingsaskatoon

Mayor Donald Atchison today condemned the attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

"I was shocked and saddened at the tragedy in Orlando, Florida. Once again the world stands united against an act of terrorism and hate.  Today we grieve for the victims and offer our condolences to their families and friends.  Our thoughts and prayers are also with those who are in the hospital recovering from the attack."

“Members of the LGBTQ2 community, those with different religious beliefs, or ethnicity should be safe in our communities.  Acts of terrorism and hate must not divide us rather we must unite as a community against them."

Flags on civic buildings, already at half-mast, will now take on additional significance.  The City of Saskatoon will follow the protocols established by the Government of Saskatchewan and the Government of Canada to determine timing.

Lost-time injuries for City workers were at the lowest-recorded level in 2015, while overall average days lost to absenteeism also continued to decline and remain well below the national average for public sector employees.

“We are encouraged with the positive direction reflected in this report,” says Catherine Gryba, General Manager of Corporate Performance.  “We always look for ways to be more efficient and at the same time make health and safety a top priority in the work we do for our citizens.”

The results highlighting successes in health, safety and absenteeism are outlined in a report to be presented June 13, 2016 to the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services.

The report* to the Committee shows:

-Incidents of injury/illness from the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) decreased from 121 in 2014 to 102 in 2015. 
-In 2015, lost-time injuries reached the lowest recorded frequency of 3.70 lost time days.  This is a 20% decrease from the 2014 reported lost-time injury frequency of 4.60.
-In 2015, the COS total, as well as the City (18%), Boards (10%) and Police (25%), had reductions in lost-time injuries.
-There was an overall decrease of 11% in injury severity and resultant number of work days lost per 100 employees for COS.
-Overall, for all civic employees, average days lost to absenteeism, total hours of absenteeism, and total costs of absenteeism was reduced in 2015.  The City’s average days lost is below the Statistics Canada public sector.
-Costs, hours and incidents of medium-term absences (more than 10 days and not long-term disability) continue to decrease over the last few years. 
-The majority of absenteeism is driven by short-term absences at 64% of total cost.  Incidents of short-term absences continue to increase at the City.

“These trends are the result of an increasingly successful safety culture at the City that values the wellbeing of our employees,” Gryba says.  “The trends also demonstrate everyone working for the City of Saskatoon wants to make safety a key aspect of civic operations – from beginning to end.”

Proper management of absenteeism supports the City’s Strategic Goal of Continuous Improvement and being the best-managed city in Canada.

*Throughout the Committee report, the City of Saskatoon (City) is used to denote all areas that are under the direction of the City Manager.  COS is used to denote the overall grouping of the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon Police Service and the civic Boards. The Boards are comprised of the Saskatoon Public Library, Mendel Art Gallery (Remai Modern), SaskTel Centre and TCU Place.

Another piece of Saskatoon’s Bridging to Tomorrow project was unveiled during today’s Standing Policy Committee on Transportation. The committee was presented with a rendering of what the pathways on the south side of the new Traffic Bridge will look like.

“The rendering shows three meter wide pathways on each side of Victoria Avenue extending down the new bridge embankment and connecting to the existing Meewasin Trail,” said Dan Willems, Director of Major Projects. “The design concept will provide greatly increased functionality by enhancing pedestrian and cyclist access between the new Traffic Bridge and the Meewasin Trail in Rotary Park.”

The City’s Bridging to Tomorrow contractor, Graham Commuter Partners (GCP), will formally submit the design to the Meewasin Valley Authority over the summer months to complete Development Review. The new pathway connections will be completed with the new bridge, which remains scheduled to be complete in October 2018.

Anyone can follow Bridging to Tomorrow construction progress at saskatoon.ca/bridging. The webpage includes video updates, photos, and live webcams showing construction of the new Traffic Bridge and North Commuter Parkway. Construction viewing areas are also in place at River Landing and on the Meewasin Trail just north of the GCP construction trailer site, and from the Meewasin Trail located just east of the cul-de-sac at the north end of Kinnear Avenue (north of Silverwood Golf Course).

City Administration will be presenting the final Active Transportation Plan (ATP) report to City Council’s Standing Policy Committee on Transportation on Monday, June 13, 2016, requesting that the report be forwarded to City Council for approval, in principle, of the long-term benefits and key directions outlined in the plan.

“The ATP was developed with broad input from residents and stakeholders and establishes a long-term vision for active transportation in Saskatoon that complements the City’s Growth Plan to Half a Million (Growth Plan),” says Alan Wallace, Director of Planning and Development.  “Guided by community input, a vision, and goals, targets for active transportation have been developed, along with key directions and action items to improve active transportation facilities, policies and standards, support programs, and education and awareness initiatives over the next 30 to 40 years.”

Some of the key directions and action items included in the ATP are to:

1. address gaps in sidewalks, shared pathways and cycling facilities in core neighborhoods, existing employment areas, and other established neighbourhoods;
2. improve connectivity of sidewalks, shared pathways and cycling facilities in new neighborhoods, and employment areas;
3. address year-round accessibility and maintenance of sidewalks, pathways, intersections, and cycling facilities;
4. address road safety and personal security issues;
5. address barriers, such as crossings of major roads, river crossings, underpasses and overpasses, railways, and natural features, to provide adequate access for all active transportation users;
6. ensure adequate levels of bike parking in the downtown, at civic facilities, and other major destinations throughout Saskatoon;
7. ensure active transportation facilities are provided along key transit, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and growth corridors, as identified in the Growth Plan; and
8. enhance education and awareness to support and promote active transportation, including promotion of sharing the road between all road users, and responsible travel behaviours and attitudes to provide more accessible, convenient, and safe transportation choices for all.

The ATP target is to double walking and cycling trips to 24% of all daily trips and 15% of all commute trips by 2045.

“Without the ATP, increased traffic congestion, longer commutes, and higher infrastructure costs are expected to impact economic growth and prosperity, quality of life, and environmental leadership as Saskatoon’s population grows to half a million people,” said Wallace.

If the ATP is approved, in principle, a five-year implementation plan will be created and brought to City Council for approval in early 2017.

Comments and requests to speak at the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation meeting may be submitted, in advance, via the City’s website at www.saskatoon.ca/writetocouncil.

For more information on the ATP, please visit the project website at www.growingfwd.ca.

If you are heading to SaskTel Centre to see Garth Brooks on Friday and Saturday, the City recommends you leave early, carpool with three or more people, and load a long playlist of Garth’s greatest hits. Most importantly, drivers are encouraged to use one of the designated routes  and obey temporary signage for direct access to parking.

First Two Phases Completed Ahead of Schedule

City motorists now have full access to Broadway Bridge and east/west access to 5 Corners, signalling a completion of the first two phases of the Broadway Improvement Project, well ahead of schedule.  “The entire project is moving along really well,” says Celene Anger, Director of Construction & Design. “Water main replacement work is progressing faster than originally anticipated, thanks to the great weather and some hard work on the part of our contractors.” 

An early finish at the intersection of Broadway and 11th Street has allowed for work at the 10th Street intersection to start early.  Connection replacements on the 600 block of Broadway Avenue are also complete and concrete repairs are taking place ahead of road resurfacing. 

The Broadway Improvement Project includes extensive water main upgrades and road resurfacing to Broadway Avenue and surrounding areas.  This large project is continually being assessed and revised to help minimize its impact on the community, allowing businesses to remain open and events to take place as normally as possible.

“Broadway is open for business;  and to make that happen, we have regular meetings with local business and property owners. Based on their feedback, we’re going to approach remaining roadwork a little differently,” says Anger.  “Instead of waiting and coming back to pave when all the water main work is done, we’re going to finish this section completely – now - and then move on.  Resurfacing between 10th and 12th Street will happen as soon as the water main work at the 10th Street intersection is done, allowing the 600 and 700 blocks of Broadway to be completely opened to vehicles and events much sooner than originally thought.”

Final resurfacing of 600 and 700 blocks should begin around the third week of June, weather permitting.

Saskatoon Transit has started using Dufferin Avenue as an alternate route during this part of the project.

For more information please visit saskatoon.ca/broadway.

Saskatoon Water is phasing-in a new Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system for water meters.

“Water meters will have a communication module added to take advantage of the benefits of AMI, which include remote meter reading, and monthly billing based on current usage, not estimates,” says Reid Corbett, Director of Saskatoon Water. “A Saskatoon Water technician requires access to the inside of homes to complete the conversion, which takes about 10 minutes.”

Saskatoon Water will notify residents with a letter when technicians are in their neighbourhood. Once a resident receives this letter, they can book an appointment online at saskatoon.ca/watermeter. It’s important to note that only residents of the areas where work is occurring can book an appointment. Currently appointments are available for water meter customers in Holiday Park, King George and Riversdale.

Between appointments, technicians will visit adjacent homes that have not made a booking to request access to their water meter. If residents are not home, they will leave a door hanger explaining the program and asking residents to make an appointment.

“We are expecting it to take approximately five years to convert all of Saskatoon’s 72,000 water meters to work with the new AMI system,” says Corbett. “The key to our success is cooperation from our customers, which includes booking an appointment online as soon as they receive our first letter.”

About 62,000 water meters newer than 1994 will have the black circular scan pad on the outside of the home replaced with a communication module. Once the communication module is in place, the wiring system that currently links the scan pad to the water meter will be attached to the new communication module.

About 10,000 meters installed prior to 1994 will be completely replaced and have the communication module added in order to work with AMI. Replacement of older water meters is part of the regular maintenance program.

To learn more about the AMI program visit saskatoon.ca/watermeter.