BRT / LINK 1st Ave. (Sept. 2026)

The First Avenue Link bus-rapid-transit design was approved on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at the regular business meeting. Council adopted Option 1, the administration recommendation: centre-running bus-only lanes on First Avenue from 20th Street to 25th Street, with stations in the middle of the street. That removes 59 downtown parking stalls.

The motion was moved by Councillor Davies and seconded by Councillor MacDonald, and it carried 7–4.
In favour: Mayor Block, Donauer, Dubois, Kelleher, MacDonald, Parker, and Timon. Against: Davies, Ford, Jeffries, and myself.

I had wanted a fourth layout from Downtown Saskatoon and the North Saskatoon Business Association looked at further. A majority did not send it back.

This followed a failed attempt on April 29, 2026 when I moved, Ford seconded, a deferral so administration would explain why curb-side transit had not been used instead of a centre lane. It wasdDefeated 5–6. In favour: Davies, Dubois, Ford, Pearce, Timon. Against: Jeffries, Donauer, Block, Kelleher, MacDonald, Parker.

The concept plan itself, moved by Dubois and seconded by Timon, was also defeated 5–6. I voted against approving it. Council instead sent administration back for more detail, including a meeting with the Saskatoon Accessibility Advisory Council (carried 10–1; only Donauer opposed).