Although the Red, Green and Blue BRT Lines are the backbone of a new Transit route network, the Transit Plan will include other complimentary services, including a full suite of mainline, crosstown, and feeder bus services that provide transit services throughout the community. saskatoon.ca/growth

BUS RAPID TRANSIT / TRANSIT PLAN

Information Package

BRT and the Transit Plan crosstown, and feeder bus services To meet the transportation Overview that provide transit services needs of a growing city, throughout the community. To meet the transportation needs Saskatoon needs to provide a of a growing city, Saskatoon needs The planning and design of the BRT variety of transportation to provide a variety of transportation and transit system reconfiguration options. options. Organized around a Bus will put the City in a position to start Rapid Transit (BRT) system a new making significant changes to Transit Plan will help Saskatoon as early as 2019, Transit accommodate the city’s subject expected growth while making to City Council approval transit a more attractive option and availability of funding. for existing residents. Our Plan The Growth Plan to Half for Growth calls for a restructuring a Million, which Council of Saskatoon Transit to a grid approved in 2016, network with frequent, direct two- included the high-level way routes serving major corridors route concepts noted and development nodes. on the next page Although the Red, Green and Blue (map). These BRT Lines are the backbone of a concepts will guide new Saskatoon Transit route the development network (see map on following page) of a more detailed the Transit Plan will include other Transit Plan. complimentary bus services, including a full suite of mainline,

saskatoon.ca/growth

saskatoon.ca/growth What does a typical BRT system look like? Corridor Selection Ridership Drive); and transit signal priority at is defined as a rubber tired bus based rapid transit all intersections along the BRT BRT is proposed along established BRT will form part of the core system that improves travel speed, reliability, capacity, and customer corridors. experience through enhancements to bus priority measures, stations, corridors where existing and services of the new transit network. customer systems and runningways. forecasted transit customer markets The BRT and reconfigured transit For example, a bus today travelling are significant: 22nd Street, 3rd network will have all the ‘key along the Green Line would arrive at Avenue, 25th Street, College Drive, ingredients’ that adds value to transit any given stop up to 7.5 minutes Preston Avenue, Broadway Avenue, to attract more riders: frequency; early or 7.5 minutes late (for a total 8th Street, 25th Street, Idylwyld reliability; travel time; directness; and variance window of 15 minutes), 1. 2. 3. Drive, 33rd Street, and Warman comfort. Many cities have employed making travel along this corridor Road. a similar approach, including: unpredictable and therefore Brampton1, Kingston2, Seattle3, unreliable. Customers travelling 3rd Avenue Phoenix, and Houston. These cities, along the same route with transit • Currently hosts the majority of have successfully reconfigured their signal priority at every intersection, transit routes through downtown, transit system to see a return on exclusive runningways along key BRT is a consistent and logical their investment through a growth in corridors mentioned above, and extension of that function. ridership.. geometric improvements at select Transit Signal Priority Geometric Priority Measures Stations include curb, pad, locations, could expect greater • Most central north-south corridor Frequency Measures use existing traffic use queue jump lanes, and identification pylon, shelter, through downtown, offering equal reliability. With the implementation of signal infrastructure, bus arrival other roadway measures to lighting, waste receptacle, coverage to the east and west. BRT is recommended to run every transit priority measures, a Green detection and software logic to provide with a time bike racks, branding and 10 minutes during core service Line bus would arrive no more than • Has lower traffic volumes than 1st, limit bus delay at traffic signals. advantage at critical points allowance for public art to hours, compared to a 30 minute 0 to 3 minutes late to any scheduled 2nd or 4th Avenues. along the corridor. create a positive customer frequency today. Having to wait less time point. experience. An experience • Accessible from the north end of than 10 minutes for the next BRT Travel Time that is welcoming, safe, downtown via 25th Street / bus provides transit passengers convenient and comfortable University Bridge and from the south increased flexibility for when they When a potential transit customer end of downtown via 19th Street / choose to travel; greater chances of considers taking transit, the amount Broadway Bridge. making transfers; and less reliance of time the trip takes is a big factor. on fixed schedules. From end to end of any line, a Broadway Avenue Each of the components may customer will save anywhere from Additionally, the proposed 4. be applied through a range of • Already serves existing transit five to ten minutes roundtrip with the 5. reconfigured transit network options that will define the scale, routes through the area, BRT is an BRT compared to a similar route consolidates many routes, and functionality and cost of the extension of that function. without transit priority measures. ensures that routes are direct as BRT system. Taking into account the travel time • A major retail destination in possible. For many local routes, the savings each day, this amounts to Saskatoon. BRT connects residents, frequency will increase from 30 to 20 significant time saved over the visitors, shoppers, employees, and minutes. students to the area. course of a week, a month, and a Reliability year. • A direct connection to/from the Customer Systems use Runningways are the Transit priority measures will make Broadway Bridge which has two destination and wayfinding path that a bus follows. the BRT significantly more reliable lanes in each direction compared to information, route and schedule Runningways may vary from than a comparable bus route without the Traffic Bridge, which will only information, real time next bus mixed traffic on an existing transit priority measures. These have one lane in each direction. information, security monitoring roadway to exclusive lanes measures include: geometric and help phones, and off board within an existing roadway • Has two travel lanes in each roadway measures; exclusive fare processing to create a to exclusive roadways direction plus parking. runningways (transit only lanes positive customer experience. separate from other traffic. along 3rd Avenue, Downtown, Broadway Avenue, and College

1. TVO “The Secret Being ’s Transit Success” (2018) https://tvo.org/article/current- affairs/the-next-ontario/the-secret-behind-bramptons-transit-success 2. Global “Kingston Trnasit Expansion Pays Off Big as Ridership Skyrockets” (2017) https:// globalnews.ca/news/3892662/kingston-transit-expansion-pays-off-big-as-ridership-skyrockets/ 3. Streetsblog USA “Only a Few American Cities are Growing Transit Ridership – Here’s What They are Doing Right” (2018) https://usa.streetsblog.org/2018/03/23/only-a-few-american- saskatoon.ca/growth cities-are-growing-transit-ridership-heres-what-theyre-doing-right/ Directness potential, better access to production Savings come from reduced transformed the Euclid Avenue In order to minimize parking impacts, people per hour. With the addition of corridor, once riddled with vacancies, stations are being consolidated, BRT and the reconfiguration of local Most people want to travel the inputs, and/or skilled workforce. For expenses mainly related to fuel and into an economic hub. The $200 adjacent areas are being studied to routes, Broadway Avenue will shortest distance along the most residential properties, the increased parking. An annual Saskatoon million project, which included funds add potential parking stalls and realistically move 2260 people per direct route, which is often a straight property value captures the general Transit pass costs $913 while the to redesign the street, have spurred some turning lanes may be removed. hour with plenty of capacity to move line. We often choose our routes preference and willingness to pay to average cost of owning and 6 nearly $6 billion in economic even more people by transit, by foot, based on the shortest trip; however, live in neighbourhoods which are operating a vehicle is $11,000. Traffic development, including the creation and by car as the city grows. Saskatoon’s current transit network more “walkable”, have greater Downtown parking alone costs up to of 8 million square-feet of Broadly, auto users can anticipate does not always take the shortest transportation options (due to the $225 a month compared to $83 for a Safety commercial space, 13,000 jobs, and some travel time savings since many route, instead, the route covers large presence of a good transit system), monthly Saskatoon Transit pass. or are more “livable”. 4,000 new residential units.8 existing drivers will switch to BRT Accident Reduction areas by travelling in loops through Transit Customer Spending and conventional transit services, neighbourhoods. While these routes Studies of several BRT Lines: Enhancing Good Streets BRT contributes to road safety Studies have examined the making more space on the roadway through a reduction in the number of provides good coverage of an area, Brampton’s Queen Street Zum Line, differences in consumer behaviour The street infrastructure for private automobiles. One BRT it reduces the ability of a passenger Cleveland’s HealthLine, LA’s Orange people traveling by car. Lower traffic by mode of transportation. The improvements that frequently bus is anticipated to carry an translates into fewer car accidents to get from A to point B in the Line, Boston’s Silver Line, Pittsburg’s results have indicated that while accompany large new transit average of 30 passengers, which shortest distance possible. A Martin Luther King Busway, and and thus a reduction in accident- drivers will spend more than other projects (such as upgraded street would otherwise translate to 27 cars related societal costs. reconfigured transit network provides Eugene’s Emerald Express Green forms of transportation in a single lighting, upgraded cycling lanes, on the road. a grid-like system with more direct Line have shown a positive visit, transit users visited trees, sidewalks, improved signage Station Safety routes that all intersect with the BRT relationship between BRT and Auto Travel Times establishments significantly more and street furniture) generally All station platforms will be equipped at one or multiple stations. property values. Studies show often, and would spend on average improve the appearance of urban Most of the BRT operates as buses with a highly visible tactile strip, property values increased ranging Comfort more than drivers in the course of a streets and enhance the surrounding do today: curbside in mixed traffic. which will help passengers detect from 1% to 8% after BRT month, except at supermarkets.7 In urban realm. Transit stations can Along 3rd Avenue, College Drive and the platform edge (despite the BRT stations will provide customers 4 implementation. also help reinforce the quality and Broadway Avenue it is with an improved waiting addition, reducing on-street parking platform being fairly low - curb height character of the street, through recommended that transit-only lanes environment. Station platforms are Job Creation has not resulted in diminished or slightly more). The station unique station and shelter designs, (exclusive runningways) and stations designed to be universally Some studies have shown that BRT revenues. platform, as well as the shelter, will branding, and public art. are built in the centre lanes to be well lit so that waiting transit accessible. The design of the station lines have increased employment Another advantage to increasing improve BRT travel time and will be highly visible and well lit; along corridors. In Eugene, Oregon, transit ridership is that for those Parking customers are highly visible from reliability. This means that the centre both the roadway as well as the shelters will provide passengers with jobs increased by 10% within 400 taking transit, transportation costs Parking has capital (construction) lanes will be occupied by the bus, protection from the wind, rain and metres of BRT stations despite a 5% decrease, providing them with more surrounding built environment and maintenance/operating costs resulting in reduced general purpose (adjacent shops, businesses, or snow; and will be equipped with decline in employment in jobs disposable income to spend borne by the owner/operator. Parking lanes in each direction; however, 5 residences). on-call radiant heat. A real-time beyond 800 metres from stations. elsewhere. also has costs borne by the user. with transit signal priority measures, information monitor will be integrated personal vehicles travelling When customers approach a station, Productivity City Building Parking Requirements at Major into the station pylon, visible from northbound along Broadway should they will have sightlines down the BRT and the reconfigured network High capacity transit is often seen as Destinations the platform or from inside the see no change to their current travel platform and into an unobstructed will reduce travel times and improve a potential catalyst to development shelter. Stations will also be With faster, direct and frequent time and those travelling southbound interior lit shelter, providing them reliability, which will result in greater and re-development of areas around equipped with seating as well as service, the BRT will reduce the should save one minute. Along with an opportunity to scan the productivity since passengers will stations. Transit infrastructure waste and recycling bins. amount of parking required at major College Drive, transit signal priority station environment. Shelters will spend less time waiting for and investments can attract capital for destinations such as: Downtown, the measures will increase personal have dual entrances so that a Economic traveling on transit. Additionally, as commercial and high density UofS, SIAST, and Broadway. vehicle travel time by one minute in passenger can easily move from Increased Property Values mentioned previously, employers residential developments; lead to the inside the shelter to the platform Parking Impacts along 3rd Avenue the eastbound and westbound would also have improved access to revitalization of older commercial deck, or leave the platform Research indicates that commercial and Broadway Avenue direction. and residential properties located a skilled workforce and customer centres and stagnant corridors; and altogether. Stations will also be close to a transit station have, on base. transform underutilized or empty Almost all of the on-street parking Roadway Capacity equipped with security cameras. parcels into mixed use sites. will be maintained along the BRT average, higher property values than Reduced Transportation Costs BRT improves the roadway capacity Health and Wellness corridors; however, there are some without having to add lanes to the other properties of similar size and Passengers who switch from driving Revitalization along BRT small sections where impacts are existing street. For example, based Research suggests that people who quality. For commercial properties, to taking transit will see reduced Corridors unavoidable. These sections include on existing transit and auto volumes, regularly use public transportation the increased property value out-of-pocket transportation costs. Cleveland’s HealthLine BRT captures the monetary value of sales 3rd Avenue and Broadway Avenue. Broadway Avenue moves 1700 tend to be physically more active 4. IBI Group. “Queen Street Rapid Transit LRT or BRT Benefits Case,” submitted to . 8. Institute for Transportation and Development Policy. “More Development for your Transit Dollar” May 2013. 2013.ts/ 5. Nelson, Arthur et al. “Bus Rapid Transit and Economic Development: Case Study of the Eugene- Springfield BRT System,” Journal of Public Transportation, 3, 2013. 6. Canadian Automobile Association “Driving Costs” (2013). https://www.caa.ca/wp-content/ uploads/2016/09/CAA_Driving_Cost_English_2013_web.pdf 7. Clifton, Kelly J. et al. “Examining Consumer Behaviour and Travel Choices,” Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium, February 2013. than auto users. According to one and design. study, transit users take 30% more Environment Project Timeline steps per day and spend 8.3 more Transit projects generate positive minutes walking per day than people Following Council adoption of the Growth Plan to Half a Million, 9 environmental impacts by reducing who rely on cars. Another study Federal Government approval of Public Transit Infrastructure Funding local and regional use of motorized demonstrates that 29% of transit and a public procurement process, HDR Corporation was awarded vehicles, reducing fossil fuel users are physically active for 30 a contract for the Bus Rapid and Conventional Transit Planning, Project Background consumption and the resulting minutes or more each day (thus Design and Engineering Services in July 2017. The major project Saskatoon will welcome exhaust emissions of greenhouse satisfying the guidelines on physical milestones are as follows: 250,000 people in the next few gases (GHG). activity for health solely by walking to decades. Adopted in 2016, our and from public transit stops) and plan for growth will create a the average walk time to/from transit  Summer/Fall 2018 – Completion of detailed design and stronger social, environmental, stops and stations amounts to as economic and financial future 10 implementation plan. much as 19 minutes per day. for all residents based on the Reducing Social Inequalities Fall 2018 – Presentation to City Council for project approval. following key components: Better transit services may improve • Corridor Growth – encour- transportation options to population aging growth and redevel- groups without access to a personal opment near existing major vehicle. About 12% of Saskatoon’s corridors and at major devel- residents live in low-income opment nodes households.11 Access to affordable • Transit and BRT – making transportation is particularly transit more attractive to more important for these individuals and people as the City grows may be essential for their livelihood • Strategic Infill – supporting to access amenities, services, and engineering services development of the Down- employment, and educational to large and small cities, town, North Downtown and opportunities. Transit is also and private sector clients. University of important to groups such as HDR Corporation has developed “endowment lands” to accom- individuals with disabilities, elderly, significant expertise in multi- modate more people and jobs and others who do not drive for modal transportation services within Circle Drive various reasons. Transit facilitates HDR Corporation is one of with core strength in bus, BRT mobility and independence of these • Core Area Bridges – making ’s leading transportation and LRT planning and design. the best use the existing road individuals, which may contribute to planning and design companies. As well, staff from HDR their successful social functioning capacity and planning for the With seven offices cross Canada Corporation work closely with future and reduction in social inequalities. HDR Corporation provides a HDR Inc. staff to support transit • Employment Areas – en- Funding for Transit diverse range of architectural initiatives in the US. suring the right amount of em- In the last decade, the federal ployment in the right areas government has given high priority to • Active Transportation Plan – improving transit infrastructure and provide infrastructure and services. Federally, transit Contact info: support for greater use of investment has grown substantially, Special Projects Manager: Phone: walking and cycling for work now averaging $1 billion per year. Rob Dudiak, Major Projects (306) 975-2475 and personal use The City of Saskatoon has leveraged Federal funding for the Transit Plan Website: Email: • Financing Growth – planning and is positioned to leverage future www.saskatoon.ca/growth [email protected] ahead for the costs of growth funding by furthering BRT planning

9. Active Living Research, “Active Transportation: Making the Link from Transportation to Physical Activity and Obesity” Research Brief, Summer 2009. 10. Besser Lilah M. and Andrew L. Dannenberg, “Walking to Public Transit Steps to Help Meet Physical Activity Recommendations”, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2005, 29 (4), pages 274-280 11. Source: 2016 Census, Statistics Canada, profile of Saskatoon Census Metropolitan Area; prevalence of low-income based on low-income measure (LIM-AT).