Saskatoon Transit is improving customer convenience with the launch of new reloadable smart cards. The cards will integrate with the current Masabi mobile ticketing platform, which allows riders to tap their new card or device on the same validator.

Mayor Cynthia Block says that the introduction of the new smart cards is part of the city’s efforts to modernize their public transit system.

“This has been an ongoing effort for quite some time to modernize our overall transit system. The manual ways that we were doing this process are not the way that should be managing a modern city as we are also preparing for a modern transit system.”

She adds that the new smart cards will help make public transit more accessible for Saskatoon residents.

“We can get cards now that are not only reloadable, but you can also do it online. This will give people more options in terms of how they ride the bus.”

New cards can be purchased or reloaded at the Transit Customer Service Centre and participating vendors. Customers with existing smart cards can swap them to waive the activation fee. Current cards will be phased out by August 31st.

Saskatoon Transit is also implementing route changes on March 29th.

Route 4 City Centre: Adjusted run times and increased frequency between the downtown and Nelson Road/Lowe Road weeknights and weekend service.

Route 27 Silverspring: Improved frequency of service on weeknights and all day Saturday and Sunday to every 40 minutes. Re-assigned evening service in Evergreen to Route 43.

Route 43 Evergreen: Introduced weeknights service and weekends with extended service hours and more frequency.

Route 44 Willowgrove and Route 45 Arbor Creek: Adjusted run times during weeknight and weekend service for more reliability.