Over the last 4 years, since the 2020 election, I have shared numerous posts and videos about Saskatoon Transit. As the City Auditor pointed out, Transit is an “essential service.” However, the current Council and Administration do not take actions to support it. As Mayor, transit will be a priority for me. The following videos are examples of my support.
I presented this video about the transit issues over the winter to the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation on March 7, 2022. As a result of this presentation, an audit was called for and conducted into Investigation of Service Disruptions in Saskatoon Transit (here are links to the Audit Report and Administration’s Response).
When the Auditor’s Report came to Council to November 2022, I presented my comments in Chambers.
I presented this video about my 1st Avenue Bus Rapid Transit Concerns with Proposed Arena to the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation on June 3, 2023. Administration’s response was that the routes and the station locations around the proposed arena all work. They are looking at the post-event volume wanting to get on queued-up buses, providing operational staff to direct people and helping them manage all the traffic (bus, vehicular and pedestrian). Despite Administration’s assurance that the proposed BRT plan will serve the district very well, my video shows otherwise. Of note, at the September 2024 meeting between the Bus Riders of Saskatoon group and Saskatoon Transit, the minutes state “Plans for the stations on College Drive are likely to end up public in the new year, while stations on 1st Avenue will be delayed as more design work is done through 2025.”
It came to my attention in January 2023 that there was a lack of transit ticket vendors in the Confed Mall area. Councillor Kirton raised the question at the February 2023 SPC-Transportation meeting. I posted this video in August 2024, indicating that there had been no progress made. Council Kirton asked about it again in September 2024 and was advised that a pilot project for a ticket vendor at the Cosmo Civic Centre would start November 1st. Of note, at the August 2024 meeting between the Bus Riders of Saskatoon group and Saskatoon Transit, the minutes state “A BRS member asks about the lack of ticket vendors in the southwest corner of the city. The Transit Director has spoken with leisure centres to try and get them to sell bus passes. Transit reports some pushback from leisure centres.”
In July 2024, I shared a video when I became aware of a significant safety concern for our bus drivers, operating their buses in extreme heat with no air conditioning.