Decision on downtown Saskatoon bus lanes expected later this month
By Phil Tank of CBC News Saskatoon
Saskatoon city council is set to decide the fate of proposed bus-only lanes on First Avenue downtown later this month.
Council's transportation committee voted Wednesday to bump consideration of a report on the controversial dedicated bus lanes to council on Sept. 23.
The committee endorsed the original proposal for the bus lanes as part of the Link transit upgrade in April, but council narrowly defeated the plan in a 6-5 vote later that month.
City administration is now offering politicians three options for the stretch on First Avenue from 19th Street to 25th Street, but is recommending the one that was first proposed.
"So I do think that there will be a decision made at the end of the month and I think, yeah, we can just move forward from there with everyone, you know, happy that the decision they made, they had the best information available," said Coun. Kathryn MacDonald, who proposed the committee refer a report on bus lanes directly to council.
Usually, reports are debated and voted on at the committee level before they reach council.
Based on direction from previous councils, city officials proposed bus-only lanes in each direction in the middle of First Avenue as part of the $262-million Link transformation, which relies mostly on federal and provincial funding.
Despite strong support from the city's largest mall, Midtown Plaza, which houses more than 130 retail outlets, council defeated the plan and directed city administration to consult with businesses that will be affected adversely by the change.
4 years late
Robert Clipperton spoke to the committee on behalf of Bus Riders of Saskatoon and reaffirmed the group's support for the original proposal. He also reminded the committee the Link system, which is also referred to as bus rapid transit, was originally supposed to debut four years ago.
Clipperton accused some on council of "micromanaging" the process on First Avenue and said the consultation prior to the first proposal was extensive.
"The frustration is very valid," MacDonald said in an interview. "This [Link plan], in my opinion, needs to roll out together to make it work and be cohesive. So it's really hard if we do have sections up and running before other sections just because [of] construction delays and council delays."
Link is supposed to start in 2028, but it's unclear whether the delay on First Avenue would postpone that timeline. Link includes bus-only lanes on First and College Drive, which has been closed since the spring while the bus lanes are built.
The original plan for First Avenue is estimated to cost $17.3 million, the report says, and any drastic change from the plan would require federal and provincial approval.
The second option pitched by city officials would alter the turn bays for the traffic lanes at the intersection of 24th Street. The third option would remove the bus-only lanes between 20th Street and 22nd Street.
Council approved the bus-only lanes in principle on First Avenue more than seven years ago.
The committee received 11 letters in support of the bus-only lanes on First, some of which featured identical wording.
Letters from the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, the North Saskatoon Business Association and the Downtown Saskatoon business improvement district all expressed similar sentiments about waiting until council meets to deliver their opinion on the bus lanes.
Darren Gilchrist, the chair of the Saskatoon accessibility advisory committee, wrote to say the First Avenue plan lacks sufficient detail to determine whether it is safe and accessible for those with disabilities. Gilchrist says the advisory committee be consulted during the design process.