Although they were already approved by Saskatoon’s Transportation Committee, City Council has decided to defer the approval of several changes to the Link Bus Rapid Transit System to the next Council meeting on June 25th.

Councilor Zach Jeffries suggested that the College Drive aspect of the project be put on pause for one more month to allow administration to answer a few more logistical questions regarding land acquisition, space for lane queuing, and alterations to the intersection of College and Preston.

Councilor Robert Pearce agreed with the decision to take a step back.

“I just want to concur with my colleague Councilor Jeffries. This is a radical departure from what we normally do in developing. We’re developing a whole new thing here, the center lane concepts, everything. This small delay isn’t going to have a major impact on construction, and I think it’s smart that we try to get this right.”

Administration confirmed that a one-month deferral would not significantly impact the construction timeline on College Drive, and the deferral was approved unanimously.

Proposed Changes

Originally, the City had hoped to construct a contraflow lane on College Drive to be specifically used for buses. This would have had buses travel in the opposite direction of adjacent traffic. The City also intended to leave in the pedestrian overpass from the Stadium parkade to the University Campus.

Instead, Administration is now recommending that the transit lanes are constructed to flow with adjacent travel, and that the pedestrian overpass be converted into an at-grade Signalized Pedestrian Crossing.