City releases detailed plans for Saskatoon bus rapid transit

It’s been a long, winding road, but after nearly two years the City of Saskatoon has revealed routes for its upcoming bus rapid transit system.

Lesley Anderson, director of planning and development for the city, introduced changes to the lines Thursday.

“This is a major move toward the implementation of our plan for growth,” she said in a news release.

“The future transit system is key to providing viable options for people to move around and supporting transit-oriented development along some of the city’s major corridors.”

Anderson noted  the latest plans are the first to go into greater detail, including the introduction of a colour co-ordinated system.

The City of Saskatoon introduced a third line that will help alleviate congestion and choke points along busier roads. (City of Saskatoon)

A green and red line will cover eastern and western transit flows with a blue line travelling north and south.

The newly introduced green line will move from University Heights, through the downtown core and end at Confederation Mall.

Much of that line will cross with the red line, extending from Blairmore to College Drive before branching off at Preston Avenue and continuing down 8th Street.

The blue line will travel from Preston Avenue South, through downtown, north on Warman Road and end in Lawson Heights.

Initial plans were revealed in November, when council approved the $120-million transit revamp.

Jim McDonald, director of Saskatoon Transit, said in a news release he’s pleased to see the city move away from the “hub and spoke” model that has been largely used up until now.

“This will help us encourage transit-oriented development that meets the growing needs for our city,” he said.

“Change is needed to ensure the success of our future system, but it will be done incrementally and thoughtfully, in partnership with the community.”

Construction for the project is projected to begin in summer 2019, and is expected to take three years.