Safety on City transit

“I would never recommend Saskatoon Transit to anyone ever, and that is hurtful. I think you all realize that I wouldn’t say that lightly.”

That’s from Mary Fedun, a concerned Saskatoon citizen and regular passenger on the city’s transit system.

She says the reason for her strong opinion stems from how unsafe passengers and bus drivers alike feel, especially when traveling through Saskatoon’s west side.

Another Saskatoon resident, Cameron McMillan, echoed her remarks, stating that he rides the bus 120 times a month, and he has never seen a Community Support Officer riding alongside him as they are supposed to. He called for the Fire Department’s CSO’s to be retasked immediately.

Saskatoon Fire Chief Doug Wegrin assures the public that CSO’s have been deployed on City buses, but a full complement was not able to be obtained until January 6th, and they are also responsible for executing community patrols, stretching their reach somewhat thin.

Wegrin agrees to provide the Committee with an update on the progress the CSO’s have made when it comes to mitigating disruptions and crime on City buses. That report will be coming in Q3 of this year.

Changes to 22nd Street connections to Fairmont Drive and Fairlight Crescent

Saskatoon’s Committee on Transporation has approved several infrastructure changes where Fairlight Crescent and Fairmont Drive meet 22nd Street.

To address safety concerns for eastbound traffic on 22nd Street West between Diefenbaker Drive and Confederation Drive, the committee has agreed that an additional connection between 22nd Street and the Tim Horton’s parking lot needs to be created.

Saskatoon Director of Transportation Jay Magus explains that “Today it’s a northbound right turn, so it will be (changed to) an eastbound right turn south. We’ll kind of flip it and realign it so it’s more of a 90-degree angle to make it safer.”

To replace that access to 22nd Street, they also approved the addition of a north-bound right turn connecting Fairlight Drive and 22nd Street.

To compliment these changes, the city will also have to relocate the existing overhead guide sign and roadside safety system located between Confederation Drive and Fairmont Drive farther west, as well as realign the pedestrian crosswalk, adjust pedestrian accessible ramps, and correct drainage deficiencies on the southwest corner of the intersection at 22nd Street West and Confederation Drive. A shared-use pathway will also be installed on the south side of 22nd Street West between Diefenbaker Drive and Confederation Drive.

City Council will still need to approve the $2.9 million project before it moves forward. If approved, the project will not commence until the money becomes available.