News Releases

Due to the extreme cold weather conditions this morning, garbage trucks were not able to begin collection as scheduled for Route 2 (Arbor Creek, Forest Grove, Parkridge and Silverspring).  The temperature has increased slightly and collection on this route will be begin at 11:00 a.m. and extend into the evening until complete.  Residents on Garbage Collection Route 2 are asked to leave their black carts out until collection occurs.

Extremely cold temperatures affect the garbage trucks’ hydraulic and mechanical components, resulting in costly damage and breakdown to the trucks.

Recycling is being collected as scheduled today.  The City of Saskatoon thanks residents for their patience during this cold period.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

The Saskatoon Transit and Access Transit fare increases that were approved as part of the 2014 City of Saskatoon Budget will take effect starting February 1, 2014.

The new fees are as follows:

Single transit tickets will increase by $0.10 for adults, students and children making the new rates $2.40, $1.80 and $1.40.

The cost of a monthly pass will also increase. For adults it will increase from $78 to $81; students $56 to $57; children $47 to $48; and for seniors $26 to $27.

Cash fares will increase by $0.10 to $3.10 per ride for an adult, $2.60 for a student, and $2.10 for a child.

An important message to our customers:  Despite incorrect information that has circulated in the community, The City of Saskatoon is continuing to offer senior discounted bus passes.  Thank you for choosing Saskatoon Transit.

For more information on Saskatoon Transit fares, routes and schedules, visit www.saskatoon.ca and click on “T” for Transit or call 306-975-3100 and speak to a Customer Service Representative.  Access Transit customers can call 306-975-3555 for further information.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases,  Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

Beginning January 13, 2014, the entrance to the Saskatoon Waste Management Centre (landfill) will be limited to single lane traffic in both directions while crews install pipeline.  

Landfill customers are asked to be prepared for increased wait times during this period. Motorists are also reminded to keep safety as a top priority and watch for flag people and work crews in the area and obey all signs and barriers.   

The work is expected to last three weeks, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

Starting at 10:30 a.m. January 24, the eastbound curb lane on Circle Drive West between 33rd Street and Airport Drive will be closed while crews remove a damaged sign.

Restrictions are expected to be lifted by 2:00 p.m., weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.  The City thanks everyone for their patience.

Drivers are reminded to allow extra time when travelling through a work zone, watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Find up-to-date traffic detour information at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Beginning Monday, January 20, grader crews will be clearing compacted snow by neighbourhood on streets across the city. This is a proactive approach to reduce the snow pack on the roadways.  Snow pack on the roadways is what allows for the formation of ruts to develop.  As part of the increased level of service for snow management through the new dedicated road levy funding, provisions were made to include city-wide snow clearing.  The levy will be used to increase road reconstruction and rehabilitation, and increase road maintenance services.

The city-wide snow clearing will be performed only on streets that are not already designated on the priority street network for snow clearing.  These priority streets receive multiple clearings throughout the winter and do not have the applicable snow pack development.  Multiple two-grader crews will clear streets that are outside of the priority system in two neighbourhoods each day.  For residential neighbourhoods, the snow clearing will be performed during the weekdays, beginning with the first identified neighbourhoods Montgomery and Willowgrove.  The first week schedule follows and  subsequent schedules will be posted on the City’s website as the snow clearing progresses.

“The current snow pack across the city is approximately 4-5 inches, which means that ruts can and are developing at that depth.  The presence of the unseasonably warm weather we are experiencing can serve to accelerate the development of ruts that become more problematic as temperatures drop and the ruts freeze,” says Director of Public Works, Pat Hyde.  “To prevent this from happening now or in the spring after more snow has fallen, we are being proactive and clearing the streets as close to the pavement as we can.”

In order for an efficient clearing that maximizes and maintains wide driving lanes, and allows for storage of snow, all vehicles must be removed from the street.  Where and when possible, grader crews will do their best to leave at least one parking space clear for each house.  This may not always be achievable as the snow needs to be pushed to the side of the roads for storage. 

Yellow ‘No Parking’ sandwich board signs, supplemented with matching paper No Parking signs in some cases, will be posted 36 hours in advance of the scheduled clearing to notify drivers to move their vehicles.  The yellow, high-visibility sandwich boards will be posted throughout the neighbourhoods on the main roads, important intersections and high-volume traffic areas.  Vehicles left on the street within the designated neighbourhoods at 7:00 a.m. will be relocated and ticketed and ordered to pay a fine of $100 (no reduction available).  Drivers can locate their vehicle with the Find My Vehicle! application on the City’s website or by calling the Public Works customer service line at 306-975-2476 or public.works@saskatoon.ca

The street clearing schedule may be required to be changed as the program progresses, depending on the conditions of the streets.  If it snows, the clearing program will be on hold as crews are deployed to clear the priority streets.  Any neighbourhood/street that is cancelled will be rescheduled and No Parking signs will be re-posted again to notify residents.  Visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/snow to learn more about the City’s snow and ice management program or contact the Public Works customer service line at 306-975-2476 or public.works@saskatoon.ca.

Street Clearing Schedule – January 20 - 24

Monday, January 20 – Montgomery and Willowgrove

Tuesday, January 21 – Silverwood Heights and Wildwood

Wednesday, January 22 – Arbor Creek and Hampton Village

Thursday, January 23 – Fairhaven and Sutherland

Friday, January 24 – Lawson Heights and Silverspring

Traffic is currently restricted to one lane on Faithful Avenue between 51st Street and 52nd Street for an emergency water main repair.

All restrictions are expected to be lifted by the end of day January 7, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Drivers are reminded to allow extra time when travelling through the orange zone, watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Find up-to-date traffic detour information at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Starting at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, January 24, the 25th Street westbound median lane approaching 6th Avenue will be closed.  Crews require access to underground utilities.

It is expected the work will be completed by 3:00 p.m. that day, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.  The City thanks everyone for their patience.

Drivers are reminded to allow extra time when travelling through the orange zone, watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.
Know before you go! Find up-to-date traffic detour information at www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Environment Canada has ended its wind warning for Saskatoon and area.  As a result, the City’s Level 1 Emergency Alert is over as well.

Over the course of Wednesday evening, January 15, the abnormal above freezing temperatures dropped which increased possibility slippery road conditions.  However, sanding crews worked overnight to address any problem roadways. 

City staff yesterday responded to a number of service disruptions or operational challenges throughout the day. An Emergency Level 1 Alert allowed for the sharing of information across civic departments and divisions.  

The following is an update on the City of Saskatoon services:
Saskatoon Light & Power (SL&P)

All systems are operating normally and at time of release there are no current power outages.

Credit Union Centre (CUC)

As of 11:12pm last night, there were no concerns raised by CUC staff.

Facilities

Operating normally

Transit

Normal operations
Public Works
Snow & Ice

Sanding crews worked overnight to address any problem roadways. A more detailed update will be available later today.

Saskatoon Landfill
The Landfill is open to the public for normal operations. 

Recycling and Garbage Collections
Garbage collection continues as normal today including neighbourhoods that may have been missed.  Also, many residents are reporting missing or damaged carts this morning.  To help us resolve the issue, please phone the Waste Stream Customer Service Line at 306-975-2486.

Solid waste truck operators attempted to upright as many carts as they could;  the City would like to thank everyone who took a few extra minutes to pick up overturned carts and cleaned up any spilled material throughout yesterday’s wind event.

Parks

Parks crews were able to address five tree-related calls last night.  Call volume is currently normal.

With the wind speeds down we do not expect an escalation of priority hazardous tree-damage service calls.  If City-owned trees are damaged and residents are concerned they may be a safety hazard, please phone the Parks division at 306-975-2890 which will be open until 4:45 p.m. today.  Afterwards, please call the 24-hour Public Works hotline at 306-975-2476.

Transportation
The traffic signal pole that was downed at Central Avenue and Attridge Drive is expected to be repaired this morning.
Information for Residents and Visitors

The City would again like to remind residents and visitors to keep safety a priority during and after extreme weather events such as this one.  In an emergency, residents are to phone 911 for immediate assistance.

Today, the City recommends residents examine their trees and property during the daylight hours to ensure the area is safe.
For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

Residents are reminded that in 2014, your garbage and recycling carts will continue to be emptied on the same day of the week as they were emptied in 2013; the scheduled day did not change for this year. Carts must be placed for collection no later than 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day or it may be missed.

A few households have received incorrect schedules due to a printing error on the 2014 garbage and recycling collection calendars, “Let’s Roll”.  If you received the wrong schedule, please accept our apologies.  You may reference or print the correct schedule at SaskatoonRecycles.ca, or call 306-975-2486 for assistance and to request a new calendar.  

Residents are also reminded to please leave your garbage and recycling carts out if they’re not emptied on your scheduled collection day.  Weather conditions, mechanical failures and lane conditions can affect collections.

Garbage and Recycling Make-up Collection from Wednesday, January 1
Due to the New Year’s Day statutory holiday, recycling and garbage collection for Wednesday routes, will be collected tomorrow, Saturday, January 4.  If your cart is not emptied on Saturday, please leave it out for collection on Sunday. 

Our cart collection program is designed to reduce the amount of waste that goes to the Landfill and help grow a greener Saskatoon. For more information about recycling and waste handling, visit SaskatoonRecycles.ca.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

The City of Saskatoon’s website, www.saskatoon.ca, will undergo a temporary service disruption this Sunday evening, January 12; the disruption will last approximately 30 minutes, starting at 10:30 p.m.

The planned service work requires that we disrupt access to a number of our public facing Internet services.  From 10:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., the public website, all online service applications (Parking Ticket Payment, Submit your Meter Read, Leisure Online etc.) and email will be unavailable.  From 11:00 p.m. thru to midnight, there may also be brief interruptions until the maintenance work is complete. 

The City of Saskatoon is focused on continuous improvement and aims to provide the best high-quality services to meet the high expectations of our citizens. We apologize for any inconvenience to our citizens due to this brief disruption to our website.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.