Saskatoon Transit expects high volume on school opening; plan accordingly

Saskatoon Transit expects 20 new buses to arrive in 2025.

SASKATOON — Saskatoon Transit Director Mike Moellenbeck advises commuters to plan their daily commute, especially when classes resume on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Transit buses are ready for the back-to-school rush when commuter traffic peaks in the morning and afternoon.

Moellenbeck said their agency is gearing up for the school opening as students return to class, adding that commuters plan their trips to avoid delays during the peak riding times with bus routes in the city that go through high schools and the university area can typically fill up quickly in the morning and afternoon.

"Unfortunately, the demand is here faster than the new buses on order, so we expect buses to be full with limited extra buses to add to service. We apologize to affected customers and are committed to addressing the overcapacity routes as best we can with the limited options," said Moelleneck.

He added that the Transit's ridership was an issue during the previous school year, and they are again expecting a higher volume of commuters this fall, exacerbating overcapacity.

Saskatoon Transit said they will have all available buses on the road, but they may need more to meet the demand on some routes to take everyone at peak times.

Eight buses will be added to Transit's fleet by the end of the year, which could address the demand. Twenty buses will arrive in 2025, as the lead time on delivery can be up to 18 months.

Moellenbeck said that public transit is an option for car owners who want to avoid rush-hour traffic but must also plan their trips. "Someone using public transit may want to consider taking an earlier bus to avoid delays with everyone trying to get to work and school simultaneously."

In 2023, the city council approved a 10-year fleet renewal funding plan to increase and improve the reliability of Transit buses. Following a 2022 City Auditor review, Saskatoon Transit made several changes to operations and maintenance to improve overall service delivery.

Transit ridership continues to grow and will match or surpass the 13.2 million riders in 2019. Year-to-date ridership grew to about 18 per cent from July 31, 2023, to July 31, 2024.

In other back-to-school news, Staples Canada is committed to helping Saskatchewan students with their annual School Supply Drive. CEO Rachel said donations from their customers in the province should be proud to help needy students in local communities.

"One hundred percent of all donations are given to our partners, who can purchase the school supplies most needed in their communities. We're proud that in 2023, we raised more than $50,000 in Manitoba and Saskatchewan to support needy students across those provinces," said Huckle.

With the help of local United Way partners, Staples Canada raised the funds through their 19 stores. The money raised will provide Staples gift cards to their charitable partners, who will then use them to buy essential school supplies for children in need across the province.

"We are committed to making a meaningful impact and helping to ensure that students in Saskatchewan have the tools they need for educational success. The number of students assisted will depend on community support and the specific needs identified by our regional partners," said Huckle.

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