Saskatoon's downtown business community is expressing cautious optimism after city council paused the approval of concept plans for the Link Bus Rapid Transit system along First Avenue. The pause, which followed hours of debate and multiple votes during Wednesday's council meeting, is seen as an opportunity to address merchant concerns and refine the proposal.
Council Deadlock Leads to Further Study
The meeting saw a series of close votes. A motion to defer the plan for up to a year, brought forward by Coun. Robert Pearce, was defeated 5 to 6. Subsequently, a motion to approve the updated plan as-is also failed 5 to 6. Council then directed staff to return with more detailed, high-level planning information.
The updated plan had shifted from buses flowing opposite to traffic to running in the same direction, a change intended to simplify operations. However, numerous issues remained unresolved, including the elimination of 61 parking spots (from 308 to 247), snow removal, emergency service access, and the shipping and receiving needs of businesses along First Avenue.
Business Community Reacts
Shawna Nelson, executive director of the Downtown Saskatoon BID, expressed gratitude that council recognized the challenges businesses face. "We're very thankful that the councillors understood some of the challenges that we have. They also saw that there were challenges … that we weren't even bringing up as well," she said in an interview the day after the meeting.
Nelson highlighted the Capitol Music Club as a business that would be severely impacted by the removal of parking in front of its venue. The club frequently transports large live entertainment equipment through its front door, with no alternative loading access via alley or side entrance. "There really wasn't anything fruitfully provided to us to see that (the administration was) working on overcoming this huge barrier for success; this would basically put (Capitol Music Club) out of business," she warned.
In contrast, Michael Mehak, representing Midtown Plaza, emphasized the importance of maintaining bus service in front of the mall. "Pretty much all shopping centres have been an anchor point for rapid bus, which eventually leads to other multimodal forms of transportation," he said, expressing support for the plan's core vision.
Council Support for BRT Vision
Despite the disagreements, there was general council support for the concept of a Bus Rapid Transit system downtown. The city defines Link as a "reliable, efficient system" that helps reduce congestion, lower maintenance costs, and cut emissions. According to its website, "Link will provide frequent, reliable service through three dedicated rapid transit lines, supported by local feeder routes and transit priority measures."
The pause gives city staff a chance to address the laundry list of sticking points raised during the meeting, including accessibility, parking loss, and emergency access. The Downtown BID remains hopeful that the resulting plan will be more merchant-friendly and practical for all stakeholders.
