SASKATOON — City of Saskatoon Technical Services Director Dan Willems has assured the public the downtown district can accommodate the expected increase in foot and vehicular traffic once the proposed event centre/arena is completed.
From Aug. 30 to Oct. 30 the city will be seeking the public’s input either by a sample survey through telephone, online or intercept across Saskatoon. Local businesses and organizations will also be part of the survey.
Willems told SASKTODAY that travelling, either by foot or vehicle, and other traffic issues are always taken into consideration in an area where plans for a new event or convention centre, or arena is going to be built.
“Key traffic considerations will be the concept of travelling to the area via one of the many other transportation options that will be available to get to the [event and entertainment] district,” Willems said.
“For example, active transportation (walking, cycling etc.), along with taxi and rideshare options, and the future bus rapid transit system, will mean fewer people will need to drive to the event centre/arena and park than is currently required to attend events at SaskTel Centre.”
He added people who have attended big games, concerts, events and festivals know how an efficient public transport system plays a key role in how quickly people can get in and out of the area of the venue, which can be applied when Saskatoon’s entertainment district opens.
“The more people who use other ways to travel in and out of the downtown event and entertainment district, the less traffic congestion there will be, and more parking will be available for those who choose to drive,” said Willems.
He added parking will also not be an issue as the city has ample space along with several commercial paid parking lots around the downtown area.
“We did a study back in 2016 and can confirm [that], approximately, there are currently 8,000 municipal and commercial paid parking stalls located downtown and about 5,400 private off-street parking stalls serving specific employer buildings,” said Willems.
“That being said we’re still anticipating that new additional parking [spaces] will be part of this project. I’d like to also point out the existing 8,000 paid parking downtown versus the over 4,000 parking stalls at the SaskTel Centre.”
Bus stops and stations will also be placed in different locations around downtown, once the city’s bus rapid transit system is launched making the proposed event centre/arena accessible by walking.
“Once the bus rapid transit system is launched there will be stations that incorporate transit information displays, heated shelters, security cameras and high-frequency service at key locations downtown. The [BRT] project was approved by the city council in April 2019 and is funded in partnership with other orders of government, separate from the event centre/arena.”
The administration is recommending the Midtown shopping centre’s north parking lot as the possible site where the event centre/arena can be built as the lot area can accommodate the structure.
