Saskatoon Transit
Encyclopedia
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
arm of the City of Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It operates a fleet of diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es. A total of 23 bus routes serve every area of the city, carrying approximately 11 million passengers in 2008. Saskatoon Transit is a member of the Canadian Urban Transit Association
Canadian Urban Transit Association
Canadian Urban Transit Association is a trade association for the urban transit industry in Canada.-History:It was originally established in 1904 as the "Canadian Street Railway Association"...
.
History
Saskatoon Transit was initially known as Saskatoon Municipal Railway and began operating on January 1, 1913 with a fleet of streetcarsTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
. Service as far as Sutherland began in 1914 when it was still a separate village. The servicing garage was (and remains) located in the Caswell Hill neighbourhood, on the north side of 24th Street between Avenues C and D. (A second garage now faces it across 24th Street.)
The central transfer point for most bus routes has always been the block of 23rd Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues and the neighbouring corners on 2nd and 3rd Avenues. In 1984, this block was permanently closed to regular traffic and a "Transit Terminal" constructed, consisting of widened sidewalks, heated shelters, and angled curbs to provide three "bays" on each side of the block. The 23rd Street Transit Terminal was opened on November 2, 1984. This terminal area is perceived by many as unsafe, and most of the businesses along this block have relocated; however, Saskatoon Transit has made some recent improvements, including a constant security guard presence and a Customer Service Centre where tickets, passes and schedules may be obtained. The 2005 Strategic Plan Study recommended that major improvements be carried out to the downtown terminal, but no changes have been made.
Diesel buses supplemented the streetcar service from at least 1938. In the 1940s a decision was made to replace streetcar service with trolley buses
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
; the first trolley bus ran on November 22, 1948, starting a three-year transition period, and the last streetcar ran on November 10, 1951. With the demise of the streetcars, Saskatoon Municipal Railway was renamed Saskatoon Transit System on August 15, 1949. The trolley buses were in turn phased out and ran for the last time on May 10, 1974.
Although the official name is now Saskatoon Transit Services (as of 1998), it is generally known simply as Saskatoon Transit, which is what appears on their Web page, logo, and all their brochures.
Two of the original Saskatoon streetcars are on display and being restored at the Saskatchewan Railway Museum
Saskatchewan Railway Museum
The Saskatchewan Railway Museum is a railway museum located west of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at the intersection of the Pike Lake Highway and the Canadian National Railway tracks...
.
2005 Strategic Plan Study
The main recommendations of the Short Term Plan were to re-orient the current regular service network to better serve the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
and other key destinations, to introduce higher-order "DART" service on four corridors interlined into two routes, and to construct
a new bus terminal at Market Mall
Market Mall (Saskatoon)
Market Mall is a shopping centre located in the Nutana Suburban Centre area on the east side of Saskatoon. Built in the 1960s as Saskatoon's first enclosed shopping centre, it has undergone four major expansions since the late 1970s and now houses approximately 90 stores and services, anchored by...
, as well as to make major improvements to the terminals downtown and at the University.
The routes in place prior to 2006 had not been substantially modified since the 1970s, and some since the 1950s, with the result that many neighbourhoods, particularly the newer suburbs, had poor service. Some areas such as Montgomery Place and Briarwood
Briarwood, Saskatoon
Briarwood is a residential neighbourhood located in the southeast part of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The majority of its residents live in low-density, single detached dwellings. As of 2009, the area is home to 4,473 residents...
had no bus service at all on weekends. Many outlying neighbourhoods (e.g., Dundonald, Silverspring, Briarwood) had "stub routes" that deposited riders at a suburban mall transfer point, necessitating a transfer, and often two or three, to get anywhere in the city. Post-secondary institutions were under-served relative to the number of students using the buses; SIAST Kelsey Campus
Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology
Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology is a diploma-granting college that has four campuses across Saskatchewan. More than 12,000 students are enrolled in its programs and has approximately 29,000 additional individual registrations....
had only one major route serving it, so that trips to SIAST from most places in Saskatoon involved a transfer onto an overcrowded bus. Due to extreme congestion at the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
, several routes bypassed the campus altogether, forcing students to cross College Drive on foot. Service to the airport was nonexistent, and service to industrial areas was extremely poor. Demand in these areas was also extremely low, at least in part due to the poor service.
The Market Mall terminal has been built, and a temporary terminal with car traffic prohibited has been built at the University, pending a longer-term solution. Work has yet to begin on improving or relocating the downtown terminal.
The Long Term Plan is a 10-year plan that focuses on the infrastructure needed to maintain the improvements to the system implemented in the Short Term Plan and expansion needed to keep up with the expected increases in ridership that the improvements will generate. Issues include staffing, fleet replacement, refurbishing older buses, maintenance, new technologies such as emissions reduction and "smart" fare collection. Critical items include:
- Rejuvenating the fleet. The industry standard is to replace buses on an 18-year cycle; by this standard, Saskatoon Transit's fleet is quite old. The plan recommends replacing 6 buses a year through 2010, and 7 buses a year for the remaining years of the plan, as well as expanding the fleet by 12 buses.
- New transit garage. The current transit garage is too small for the fleet and surrounded by residential properties that make it undesirable if not impossible to expand the facility. A satellite facility or entirely new facility in a different location, probably an industrial park, is recommended within the next 5 years.
- More bus shelters. The plan recommends a target number of 215 bus shelters (30% of stops), or 22 per year over the course of the plan, up from 3 or 4 per year that are currently installed. This would include shelters at all DART stops, perhaps of a distinctive design.
- Fare technology. A review of fare collection options, and in particular smart card technology, should be undertaken within a year.
- Transit-oriented development. Work with urban planners to design neighbourhoods that work with public transit and discourage use of private vehicles.
- Signal priority and queue-jump lanes. Allow buses to avoid congestion by "turning the lights green" for them, and providing bus-only lanes where needed, for instance at the approaches to University Bridge.
Fares
Fares may be paid by the Go-Pass smart card, or cash (coins only effective February 2010). The adult cash fare is currently $2.75, which includes unlimited transfers for 60 minutes from time of payment. Primary and secondary school students pay reduced fares.Seniors are eligible for discounted passes lasting 3 months to a year. Riders on social assistance are also eligible for discounted monthly passes.
Post-secondary students
University of SaskatchewanUniversity of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
undergraduate students pay a mandatory U-PASS fee (currently $69.50 per term) for a universal transit pass, in the form of a validation sticker on their student card. Students living in on-campus residences and others with special circumstances may apply for an exemption.
Other post-secondary students may purchase a 4-month semester pass at a slightly reduced price compared to the adult monthly pass.
Go-Pass
Effective February 2010, Saskatoon Transit has upgraded its fare system to use a smart cardSmart card
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card , is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits. A smart card or microprocessor cards contain volatile memory and microprocessor components. The card is made of plastic, generally polyvinyl chloride, but sometimes acrylonitrile...
system called Go-Pass. The card has replaced tickets, day passes and monthly passes, respectively with a refillable fare card and unlimited-fare cards that expire after a day or month. The system cost Saskatoon Transit $2.9 million. The system's roll-out date was delayed to February 2010 in order to avoid problems with the new system during the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2010 IIHF World U20 Championship, commonly referred to as the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships , was the 34th edition of World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. The tournament was hosted in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, from December 26, 2009 to January 5, 2010...
.
Smart cards have been adopted to limit fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
—such as forged
Forgery
Forgery is the process of making, adapting, or imitating objects, statistics, or documents with the intent to deceive. Copies, studio replicas, and reproductions are not considered forgeries, though they may later become forgeries through knowing and willful misrepresentations. Forging money or...
monthly passes and short-changed fares—and to reduce the potential for conflict between driver and passenger. Rather than showing the card to the driver, the card is swiped across the reader and may remain inside a wallet. Transfers are barcode
Barcode
A barcode is an optical machine-readable representation of data, which shows data about the object to which it attaches. Originally barcodes represented data by varying the widths and spacings of parallel lines, and may be referred to as linear or 1 dimensional . Later they evolved into rectangles,...
d and scanned when a passenger boards. The new fare boxes do not accept bills
Banknote
A banknote is a kind of negotiable instrument, a promissory note made by a bank payable to the bearer on demand, used as money, and in many jurisdictions is legal tender. In addition to coins, banknotes make up the cash or bearer forms of all modern fiat money...
, but coin
Coin
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced in large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory....
s are accepted and the values displayed to both rider and driver.
Route names
- 1 WestviewWestview, SaskatoonWestview is a suburban community in the Confederation Suburban Development Area of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Originally named "Tuxedo Park" by real estate developers in 1912, the area remained undeveloped until the 1960s...
— WildwoodWildwood, SaskatoonWildwood is a primarily residential neighbourhood located in the southeast part of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It includes part of the 8th Street business district. The majority of its residents live in townhouse or apartment-style multiple unit dwellings, with a sizeable minority of... - 2 MeadowgreenMeadowgreen, SaskatoonMeadowgreen community is a geographically localized subdivision of the Confederation Suburban Development Area in the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Meadowgreen is surrounded by an abundance of green space and walking trails without being a River side neighbourhood. The buffer zone...
— 8th Street - 3 RiversdaleRiversdale, SaskatoonRiversdale is an older inner city neighbourhood located near the center of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It includes the business district of 20th Street. It consists mostly of low-density, single detached dwellings. As of 2006, the area is home to 2,335 residents...
— College ParkCollege Park, SaskatoonCollege Park is a primarily residential neighbourhood located in the east-central part of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The majority of its residents live in single-family detached dwellings, with a sizable minority of high-density, multiple-unit dwellings. As of 2007, the area is home to 5,255... - 4 DundonaldDundonald, SaskatoonDundonald is one of many subdivisions of the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan which was built in the 1980s, and until recently was the farthest northwest quarter of the city of Saskatoon. The North West Development area is some of the latest land to be annexed by the city of Saskatoon, however is...
— WillowgroveWillowgrove, SaskatoonWillowgrove is a primarily residential neighbourhood located in northeast Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It comprises a mix of single-family detached houses and multiple-unit dwellings. As of 2006, the area is home to 443 residents... - 5 FairhavenFairhaven, SaskatoonFairhaven is a neighbourhood in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is close to both Catholic and public elementary schools. A strip mall is within the Fairhaven subdivision...
— BriarwoodBriarwood, SaskatoonBriarwood is a residential neighbourhood located in the southeast part of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The majority of its residents live in low-density, single detached dwellings. As of 2009, the area is home to 4,473 residents... - 6 University via City Centre — Market Mall via Broadway
- 11 Mayfair — ExhibitionExhibition, SaskatoonThe Exhibition subdivision of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, is located on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River and was developed between the two major World Wars. To the west is the Diefenbaker Management Area which boasts the Diefenbaker park and Pioneer Cemetery...
- 12 River HeightsRiver Heights, SaskatoonRiver Heights is a neighbourhood in Lawson Suburban Development Area, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Its eastern boundary borders the South Saskatchewan River. The suburb is just south of the Mall at Lawson Heights. Development of the neighbourhood began in the very early 1960s , with full build out...
— Stonebridge - 13 LawsonThe Mall at Lawson HeightsThe Mall at Lawson Heights is a shopping centre located at the junction of Warman Road and Primrose Drive in north Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It is anchored by Zellers, Safeway and London Drugs, and has almost 100 shops and services. The mall opened in the early 1980s during a period of rapid growth...
— Broadway - 14 City CentreCentral Business District, SaskatoonThe Central Business District is one of seven suburban development districts in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The central business district is Ward 6 of a Mayor-Council government represented by councillor Charlie Clark. Formerly called West Saskatoon, this area arose when the steam engines...
— North IndustrialNorth Industrial, SaskatoonNorth Industrial is a thriving industrial community in the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, which consists primarily of industrial and retail development.-Industrial characteristics:... - 16 University — Market Mall via Clarence
- 17 University — Stonebridge
- 21 University — Forest GroveForest Grove, SaskatoonForest Grove is a primarily residential neighbourhood located in northeast Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is mostly made up of low-density single detached dwellings, with a sizeable minority of multiple-unit apartment dwellings. As of 2006, the area is home to 5,767 residents...
- 22 City Centre — McCormackParkridge, SaskatoonParkridge is a residential community in western Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, located on land annexed by the city between 1975 and 1979. Development of the subdivision Parkridge is a residential community in western Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, located on land annexed by the city between 1975 and 1979. ...
- 23 Airport — BlairmoreBlairmore Suburban Centre, SaskatoonThe Blairmore Suburban Centre is a community service/commercial/residential community currently under development in western Saskatoon. Saskatchewan. It is part of the city's Blairmore Suburban Development Area, a large region annexed from the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344 in 2005...
- 24 Lawson — 71st Street
- 25 Lawson — Credit Union Centre
- 28 Forest Grove — University — Willowgrove Square
- 40 Airport — City Centre
- 50 Pacific HeightsPacific Heights, SaskatoonPacific Heights is geographically located in north west Saskatoon. The main construction boom for this community was the 1970s, during which the City of Saskatoon annexed the land...
— LakeviewLakeview, SaskatoonLakeview is a primarily residential neighbourhood located in the southeast part of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The majority of its residents live in low-density, single detached dwellings, with a sizeable minority of semi-detached or apartment-style multiple unit dwellings. As of 2010, the... - 60 ConfederationConfederation Park, SaskatoonThe Confederation Park subdivision of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, is located west of the South Saskatchewan River, Saskatoon's west side.-History:The community first appeared on city maps in the late 1960s, with development commencing in the early 1970s...
— LakeridgeLakeridge, SaskatoonLakeridge is a residential neighbourhood located in the southeast part of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Almost all of its residents live in low-density, single detached houses. As of 2009, the area is home to 4,047 residents... - 70 Lawson HeightsLawson Heights, SaskatoonLawson Heights derived its origins when ReverendStephen George Lawson homesteaded here on the North east quarter of section 10 Township 37 Range 5 West of the 3rd Meridian. He had come from Prince Edward Island and was a Presbyterian minister....
— SilverspringSilverspring, SaskatoonSilverspring is a residential neighbourhood located in northeast Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is a typical suburban subdivision, composed mostly of low-density, single detached houses. As of 2007, the area is home to 4,936 residents... - 80 Silverwood HeightsSilverwood Heights, SaskatoonSilverwood Heights is a mostly residential neighbourhood located in north-central Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is a suburban subdivision, composed mostly of single detached dwellings and some multiple-unit apartment and semi-detached dwellings. As of 2009, the area is home to 10,786 residents...
— Kenderdine
After waiting in queue for months, the city of Saskatoon will partner with Google Transit
Google Maps
Google Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...
to provide an online mapping website. This interface will take the routes and city schedules currently available and google maps will then calculate for the website viewer the optimal connection for transport between two addresses and the time to be at the designated bus stop for bus service.
DART (Direct Access Rapid Transit)
The DART routes are Saskatoon Transit's flagship service. The four DART routes interline in the central sections to form two corridors with extremely frequent service. Along this portion of their routes, bus stops are widely spaced to increase speed, and there are "express" sections on each route with no stops for over a kilometre. The interlined routes 50/60 run from Confederation MallConfederation Mall
Confederation Mall is a shopping mall located at 22nd Street and Circle Drive in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The mall was originally named Confederation Park Plaza when it opened in the early 1970s, at which time its anchor tenants were Canada Safeway and Woolco....
to The Centre
The Centre (Saskatoon)
The Centre is a major shopping centre located east of the junction of Circle Drive and 8th Street in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It is currently anchored by Zellers, SportChek, Safeway, Rainbow Cinemas, the Centre Cinemas, Petcetera, Shoppers Drug Mart and Dollarama. Until 2002-2003, Canadian Tire...
via downtown and the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
, and routes 70/80 run from The Mall at Lawson Heights
The Mall at Lawson Heights
The Mall at Lawson Heights is a shopping centre located at the junction of Warman Road and Primrose Drive in north Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It is anchored by Zellers, Safeway and London Drugs, and has almost 100 shops and services. The mall opened in the early 1980s during a period of rapid growth...
to the University Heights Suburban Centre
University Heights Suburban Centre, Saskatoon
University Heights Suburban Centre is a mixed-development neighbourhood located in northeast Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is a classified as a "suburban centre" subdivision, composed of medium to high-density multiple-unit dwellings, commercial areas and civic facilities. As of 2009, the...
via SIAST Kelsey Campus, downtown and the University. The routes continue past these points, each serving a residential loop at either end (a total of 8 loops). A reserved fleet of low-floor bus
Low-floor bus
A low-floor bus is a bus that has no steps between one or more entrances and part or all of the passenger cabin. Being low floor improves the accessibility of the bus for the public, particularly the elderly or infirm, or those with push chairs, and increasingly, those in wheelchairs.In the modern...
es with a distinctive mint-green DART livery
Livery
A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
are used exclusively on the DART routes. Most of these buses are air-conditioned and all have bicycle racks on the front.
Regular and commuter routes
There are 19 non-DART bus routes. Although the buses serving these routes are generally older, about a third of the non-DART buses are now low-floorLow-floor bus
A low-floor bus is a bus that has no steps between one or more entrances and part or all of the passenger cabin. Being low floor improves the accessibility of the bus for the public, particularly the elderly or infirm, or those with push chairs, and increasingly, those in wheelchairs.In the modern...
. Most have a blue livery to contrast with the DART buses.
The non-DART routes are numbered 1–6, 11–14, 16, 17, 21–25, 28, and 40. These routes provide comprehensive geographical coverage of every area of the city not already served by the DART routes, with more frequent stops and less frequent service than their DART counterparts. Many routes meet at the downtown terminal (except 13, 16, 17, 21, 23–25, and 28 all of which serve the University), with most also serving the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
terminal.
Routes 21, 22, 24, and 25 were conceived as peak-hour routes to provide additional service for commuters. They only operate in one direction at a time, either towards the downtown or the University (Routes 21 and 22) in the morning, or towards the Credit Union Centre or 71st Street (Routes 24 and 25) during the morning, and the opposite in the afternoon. Route 21 serves Forest Grove
Forest Grove, Saskatoon
Forest Grove is a primarily residential neighbourhood located in northeast Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is mostly made up of low-density single detached dwellings, with a sizeable minority of multiple-unit apartment dwellings. As of 2006, the area is home to 5,767 residents...
and the northern half of Sutherland, and Route 22 serves Fairhaven
Fairhaven, Saskatoon
Fairhaven is a neighbourhood in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is close to both Catholic and public elementary schools. A strip mall is within the Fairhaven subdivision...
and Parkridge
Parkridge, Saskatoon
Parkridge is a residential community in western Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, located on land annexed by the city between 1975 and 1979. Development of the subdivision Parkridge is a residential community in western Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, located on land annexed by the city between 1975 and 1979. ...
. As of November 7th, 2010, Route 21 no longer travels downtown. Instead, it terminates at the University and runs only during the peak hours. New Route 28 now serves the western portion of Route 21 during the off-peak hours. Routes 24 and 25 connect the Mall at Lawson Heights to 71st Street (Route 24) and the Credit Union Centre
Credit Union Centre
Credit Union Centre is an arena, located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Situated near the city's northern entrance, the facility opened in February, 1988 with a seating capacity of around 7,800. It was expanded to 11,330 for the World Junior Hockey Championships in 1990...
(Route 25).
Route 23, although numbered as a commuter route, is in fact a regular route connecting the Confederation Mall
Confederation Mall
Confederation Mall is a shopping mall located at 22nd Street and Circle Drive in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The mall was originally named Confederation Park Plaza when it opened in the early 1970s, at which time its anchor tenants were Canada Safeway and Woolco....
terminal and the Airport to Hampton Village
Hampton Village, Saskatoon
-External links:****- References :*Bill Barry, Geographic Names of Saskatchewan...
and Blairmore
Blairmore Suburban Centre, Saskatoon
The Blairmore Suburban Centre is a community service/commercial/residential community currently under development in western Saskatoon. Saskatchewan. It is part of the city's Blairmore Suburban Development Area, a large region annexed from the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344 in 2005...
, two new subdivisions that are not completely developed.
Route 28 began operation on September 7th, 2010 and travels in the opposite direction as the eastern portion of Route 4 (Willowgrove) and terminates in Forest Grove during the peak hours and the University during the off-peak hours. The service frequency during the off-peak hours is less than the other regular routes — 60 minutes compared to the regular 30. Peak hour service remains at 30 minutes.
Route 40 began operation on September 5th, 2010 and travels along Idylwyld Drive to 39th Street, Avenue C, and 45th Street to the Airport. This route is interlined with Route 23 at the Airport during the day, and interlines with the eastern portion of Route 5 during the reduced service periods (after 6:30 pm from Monday to Saturday, from start of service on Saturday until 10:30 am, and all day Sundays/Holidays).
Service frequencies
| Routes | Monday - Friday Peak | Monday - Friday Midday | Monday - Saturday Night | Saturday AM | Saturday PM | Sunday/Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Start to 9:30 AM, 3:00 PM to 6:15 PM) | (9:30 AM to 3:00 PM) | (6:15 PM to End) | (Start to 11:00 AM) | (11:00 AM to 6:15 PM) | (All Day) | |
| 1–6, 11–14, 16, 23 and 40 | 30 minutes | 30 minutes | 60 minutes | 60 minutes | 30 minutes | 60 minutes |
| 17 | 30 minutes | 30 minutes | 60 minutes | 60 minutes | 30 minutes | No service |
| 21, 22, 24, 25 | 30 minutes | No service | No service | No service | No service | No service |
| 28 | 30 minutes | 60 minutes | No service | No service | No service | No service |
| DART (50, 60, 70, and 80) | 10 minutes | 15 minutes | 30 minutes | 30 minutes | 15 minutes | 30 minutes |
NOTES: DART bus frequency is half the above on non-interlined parts of the routes. Routes 21, 22, 24, and 25 provide peak-direction service only.
Combined routes
Some buses change their route number at their termini, which is advertised in the bus pamphlets as a "stay-in-seat transfer". The list of these "transfers" is as follows:- 1 Westview becomes 2 8th Street East at Confederation MallConfederation MallConfederation Mall is a shopping mall located at 22nd Street and Circle Drive in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The mall was originally named Confederation Park Plaza when it opened in the early 1970s, at which time its anchor tenants were Canada Safeway and Woolco....
- 1 Wildwood becomes 2 Meadowgreen at The CentreThe Centre (Saskatoon)The Centre is a major shopping centre located east of the junction of Circle Drive and 8th Street in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It is currently anchored by Zellers, SportChek, Safeway, Rainbow Cinemas, the Centre Cinemas, Petcetera, Shoppers Drug Mart and Dollarama. Until 2002-2003, Canadian Tire...
- 2 Meadowgreen becomes 1 Wildwood at Confederation Mall
- 2 8th Street East becomes 1 Westview at The Centre
- 3 Riversdale becomes 4 Willowgrove at Confederation Mall
- 4 Dundonald becomes 3 College Park at Confederation Mall
- 40 City Centre becomes 5 Briarwood at City Centre during reduced service periods
- 5 City Centre becomes 40 Airport at City Centre during reduced service periods
- 23 Airport becomes 40 City Centre at Saskatoon Airport
- 40 Airport becomes 23 Blairmore at Saskatoon Airport
School service, special events, charter
Saskatoon Transit operates special morning and afternoon service to many of the city's schools, and also serves events at Credit Union CentreCredit Union Centre
Credit Union Centre is an arena, located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Situated near the city's northern entrance, the facility opened in February, 1988 with a seating capacity of around 7,800. It was expanded to 11,330 for the World Junior Hockey Championships in 1990...
. Buses are also available for charter
Renting
Renting is an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary use of a good, service or property owned by another. A gross lease is when the tenant pays a flat rental amount and the landlord pays for all property charges regularly incurred by the ownership from landowners...
trips within 40 km of the city centre. Special routes which are available to the general public have route numbers in the 300-series, with route 399 being the Credit Union Centre special from the downtown terminal. Credit Union Centre sometimes offers charter service from locations other than the downtown, but because these are charter services which regular fare, passes and transfers do not apply, these do not have route numbers.
Access Transit
Access Transit is a shared-ride door-to-door service for people who are unable to use regular transit services. Passengers are required to register in the system and book their trips in advance, either on a per-trip basis or as a regularly scheduled "subscription trip". Fares and payment are the same as for regular transit service. Access Transit in Saskatoon has been used as a model for other cities in Canada and the United States.Fleet
Saskatoon Transit's fleet consists almost exclusively of 40 feet (12.2 m) diesel buses, of which there are approximately 120 in service. Saskatoon also has 3, 60 feet (18.3 m) articulated buses made by Nova BusNova Bus
Nova Bus is a Canadian bus manufacturer in North America, owned by Volvo Buses, and headquartered in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Canada.- History :The factory was originally a General Motors plant for building city transit buses intended for the Canadian market...
. The 76 buses acquired since 1995 are New Flyer
New Flyer Industries
New Flyer Industries Inc. is a bus manufacturer in North America, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It also has factories in Crookston and St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.-History:...
low-floor bus
Low-floor bus
A low-floor bus is a bus that has no steps between one or more entrances and part or all of the passenger cabin. Being low floor improves the accessibility of the bus for the public, particularly the elderly or infirm, or those with push chairs, and increasingly, those in wheelchairs.In the modern...
es; these now make up more than half the fleet. Eight of the low-floor buses are hybrid electric
Hybrid electric bus
A hybrid electric bus combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. These type of buses normally use a diesel-electric powertrain and are also known as hybrid diesel-electric buses....
. 90 buses are required for peak hour service commitments.
In fall 2009, a tender for 3 articulated buses was awarded to Nova Bus
Nova Bus
Nova Bus is a Canadian bus manufacturer in North America, owned by Volvo Buses, and headquartered in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Canada.- History :The factory was originally a General Motors plant for building city transit buses intended for the Canadian market...
. These buses were delivered in April 2010 and officially unveiled at a press conference in front of city hall in June 2010.
Transit Terminal
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
-certified building with a green roof
Green roof
A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems...
, surrounded by a ring of raised-platform stops. In addition to Saskatoon Transit, the building could also house a coffee shop and government offices such as social services or immigration.
Bus barn re-location
City Transit Bus Routes has housed its headquarters around the 1913 original streetcar building at Avenue C and 24th Street. The city transit headquarters afterwards adopted this area for bus warehouse garages and offices between Avenue C and D at 24th Street. A seven million dollar consultant plan has been approved by the SaskatoonSaskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
planning and operations committee to relocate the transit bus barns. The Caswell neighborhood
Caswell Hill, Saskatoon
Caswell Hill is a district in the Canadian city of Saskatoon. It derives its name from an early homesteader Robert Caswell one of the Temperance Colonists of 1883. It is an area of beautiful character homes first built c 1905, tiny war-time houses, and newer houses...
will be revitalised by renovating the 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) area with a community for artists and musicians enhanced with a music festival.
See also
- Saskatchewan Railway MuseumSaskatchewan Railway MuseumThe Saskatchewan Railway Museum is a railway museum located west of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at the intersection of the Pike Lake Highway and the Canadian National Railway tracks...
- Saskatoon Street Cars