Moving Around - Saskatoon StarPhoenix

background
Moving Around
One benefit of living in a city is the opportunity to easily access a range of places
and activities - homes (yours, family’s and friends’), work, social events, cultural
events, sports and recreation, and health services. Currently, 85% of commuters in
Saskatoon travel to work by private automobile. As the city grows this will increase
traffic congestion and commute times and reduce air quality. There should be options
for moving around the city that are affordable and accessible, including by private
automobile but also by public transit, cycling and walking. Using alternative travel
modes has many benefits, including reduced congestion, road and parking facility cost
savings, improved public health and safety, and pollution and emissions reduction.
Providing options for moving around the city is important
to achieving a high quality of life for everyone.
Regina
Winnipeg
Hectares of Green Space per 1000 people
in Major Canadian Cities
Halifax
Ottawa
1.4
Montréal
Toronto
(source: Green Space Acquisition and Stewardship in Canada’s Urban Municipalities)
Our car-oriented city
Beginning in the 1950s, a strong economy, inexpensive
land just outside of the urban area, the desire for single
family homes on large lots, increased vehicle ownership,
and work places being geographically separated from
living spaces all contributed to outward growth, single-use
developments and heavy reliance on the automobile.
Vehicle ownership has tended to increase in line
7.8%with the 6.9%
7.2%
overall increase in Saskatoon’s population. In Saskatoon,
85% of people traveling to work do so by private vehicle. In
comparison with other Canadian cities, Saskatoon has the
second highest percentage of private vehicle use at 78.7%.
4.6%
4.8%
5.5%
50%
50%
40%
40%
100%
30% 100%
30%
At
90%
20% 90%
20%
80%
10% 80%
10%
Montréal
At 2.4% saskatoon has the highest
percentageToronto
of cyclists
1.6%
winnipeg
edmonton
calgary
Regina
Winnipeg
Halifax
25.5% 27.2%
25.9%
19.7%
50%
13.5%
11.4%
winnipeg
40%
10.3%
30%
How Saskatonians move
around compared to other cities
How
Saskatonians
move
(source:
Statistics
Canada Census 2006)
around compared to other cities
20%
10%
30%
40%
0.67
0.63
integrated record
production/distribution
50%
libraries
40%
landscape architecture
services
60%
Toronto
post-production, motion
picture, video industries
50%
(source: GreenApple Canada Smart Transporation Ranking Report)
Montréal
newspaper publishers
% of labour force walking, cycling or taking
public transit to work (2001)
60%
Halifax
Ottawa
Winnipeg
periodical publishers
0%
art dealers
Regina
motion picture and video
production
Saskatoon
architectural services
(source: Statistics Canada Census 2006)
Edmonton
Calgary
graphic design services
Vancouver
creative/arts schools
winnipeg
edmonton
edmonton
calgary
calgary
regina
saskatoon
regina
0.2%
Montréal
Toronto
At 78.7% Saskatoon has the second highest
19.6%
60%
percentage
of people
driving has
a motor
vehicle
second
highest
At
78.7%
Saskatoon
the
18.9%
18.0%
percentage of people driving a motor vehicle
canada
saskatoon
Ottawa
0.3%
How Saskatonians move
10%
canada
1.9%
At 78.7% Saskatoon
has the second highest
1.4%
percentage of people driving a motor vehicle
At 7.5% Saskatoon has the lowest
aroundAtcompared
to
other
cities
percentage
ofCanada
people
traveling
passengers
7.5%
Saskatoon
hasasthe
lowest
(source: Statistics
Census 2006)
percentage of people traveling as passengers
20%
2
regina
canada
How People Move Around
Saskatoon
0
At 7.5% Saskatoon has the lowest
percentage of people traveling as passengers
At
6.2% Saskatoon
hasinone
of the
highest
Aboriginal
Population
Major
Canadian
Cities
At 6.2%
Saskatoon
has one of the highest
percentage
of pedestrians
(total percentage
of city population)
percentage
ofForce
pedestrians
(source: Statistics
Canada Labour
Characteristics)
30%
(souce: Statistics Canada Census 2006)
0
At 6.2% Saskatoon has one of the highest
percentage of pedestrians
9.9%
2.5%
Calgary
other
2.4%
cycle
walk
3.7%
20%
10%
9.2%
At0.6%
3.7% Sakatoon has the lowest
At 3.7%
Sakatoon
the lowest
percentage
of public
transithas
users
0
percentageEdmonton
of public transit
users
Saskatoon
Vancouver
40%
30%
9.8%
4.4%
saskatoon
50%
6.2%
public transit
40%
60%
shared vehicles
50%
78.7% 7.5%
personal vehicle
60%
At 3.7% Sakatoon has the lowest
percentage of public transit users
2.4%
has the has
highest
At saskatoon
2.4%
saskatoon
the highest
percentage
of cyclists
percentage of cyclists
70%
0 70%
Halifax
Ottawa
80%
As the city has grown, reliance on the car has resulted in
70%
70% more time spent driving. Travel time from downtown
to the
city
limits
in
any
direction
almost
doubled
between
2002
60%
60%
(10-12 minutes) and 2009 (18-20 minutes).
6.5%
6.2%
There is the potential to lower this mode share given that
Edmonton
85% of Saskatoon’s employed labour force lives
and works
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Calgary
Regina
in Saskatoon. City Park, Nutana and the Central Business
Winnipeg
100%
100% District currently have the greatest number
of
people
that
Unemployment Rates in Major Canadian Cities
(year ending 2009)
90% live and work in the same neighbourhood. 90%
(source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Characteristics)
80%
9.1%
9.4%
40%
40%
30%
30%
winnipeg
other
Mode Share in Saskatoon
edmonton
cycle
0
regina
1.6%
calgary
2.4%
saskatoon
3.7%
canada
6.2%
public transit
shared vehicles
personal vehical
78.7% 7.5%
walk
10%
10%
0
Following 20 years of
ridership decline, recent
initiatives, such as the
U-PASS, have increased
the use of transit
significantly since 2003.
20%
20%
Mode Share Comparison
with Other Cities
(souce: Statistics Canada Census 2006)
(source: Statistics Canada Census 2006)
courtesy wikipedia trekphiler
The transit system
Efficient public transit reduces traffic congestion and
reduces pollution. Accessible and affordable transit should
also meet the needs of the elderly, students and low-income
earners who would otherwise have limited mobility.
15,000,000
14,000,000
13,000,000
12,000,000
11,000,000
Saskatoon is working to improve its transit service. Although
transit ridership decreased between 1983 and 2005, a major
service change resulted in a 26% ridership increase between
2006 and 2009. This demonstrates that people are willing to
take public transit if the system is more efficient.
10,000,000
9,000,000
8,000,000
7,000,000
2009
2007
2005
2003
2001
1999
1997
1995
1993
1991
1989
1987
Passengers Carried by Public Transit in Saskatoon
(source: City of Saskatoon)
93% of those working in Saskatoon live in the city
7% of those working in Saskatoon travel from surrounding communities
35,000,000
30,000,000
190 from Prince Albert
25,000,000
Rheinland
20,000,000
Langham 280
15,000,000
Blumenheim
235
Warman1400
1870 Martensville
$0
from Asquith
140
from Vanscoy 235
People commuting into
Saskatoon to work
concentration of commuters
employment lands
City of Saskatoon limits
Rural Municipality of corman park
(source: City of Saskatoon)
operating expenditures $
130 from Aberdeen
transit revenue $
number of passengers c
Discovery
Ridge
Hidden Ridge
Estates
Cedar Villa
Furdale
Grasswood
Riverside
Estates
Wood
Meadows Ashwood
Merril Hills
Estates
Caso Rio
Estates
Bedford Acres
Beaver Creek Deer Meadow
2003
2001
1999
1997
River’s Edge
Estates
Saskatoon Transit Revenue and
Eagle Ridge
Estates
Expenditure Comparison
1995
1993
1989
1987
1985
Cathedral Bluffs
1991
5,000,000
Osler
Dalmeny 470
10,000,000
1983
Inter-regional transit systems will
become more important as the
population in the communities
surrounding Saskatoon continue
to grow. Currently, 12,425 people
commute to work in Saskatoon
from other municipalities and 4,525
Saskatoon residents leaving the
city to work elsewhere. Of those
travelling into the city to work, the
greatest percentages come from
the Rural Municipality of Corman
Park, Martensville and Warman,
respectively. The greatest percentage
of outbound commuters travel from
their residence in Saskatoon to work
in the Rural Municipality of Corman
Park, Martensville, and Vanscoy.
1985
However, compared with the rest of Canada, Saskatoon
still has a low mode share for walking and cycling or taking
public transit to work at 11.4% compared with Vancouver
at 18.0%, Calgary at 18.9% and Ottawa at 25.5%. At 3.7%,
Saskatoon has the lowest transit mode share among all
major Canadian cities. All of these cities have rapid transit
infrastructure and extensive bike lane systems.
1983
6,000,000
105
305
BACKGROUND INFORMATION SASKATOON SPEAKS
3
Planning for growth provides
an opportunity to map out
an efficient transit network
and ensure development
supports a high level of
service on key routes.
Transit and the importance of transit hubs and corridors
Saskatoon has undertaken a number of initiatives to
encourage transit ridership including, the Direct Access
Rapid Transit (DART) system which has limited stops
and frequencies as low as 10 minutes, the installation
of bike racks on buses, and an increase in the number
of accessible low floor buses. The U-PASS subsidized
student transit system for the University of Saskatchewan
has 16,000 registered undergraduate students. These
programs have been major trip generators. Transit
oriented development complements these trip generation
programs.
Transit oriented development concentrates new residential
and commercial development along major transportation
corridors serviced by frequent transit service or in close
proximity to transit terminals. Typically, the neighbourhood
has a centre with a transit station or stop surrounded
by developments that accommodate large amounts of
people in offices, commercial and residential buildings.
As you move away from the transit hub, the building
types accommodate fewer people, lower density. The
higher overall densities of this type of development
help to support transit service, whereas lower density
neighbourhoods do not have the population numbers to
support frequent service. Transit hubs provide key places
where services, housing and institutions can locate so
that they are easily accessible to everyone via an efficent
transit service.
Because they have a mix of uses and lots of people living
and working in them, transit oriented developments also
have many attractive amenities, like shopping close to
home, and their design encourages walking and cycling.
1914 Transit System in Saskatoon
light rail network
city of saskatoon limits
lawson heights terminal
confederation terminal
place riel hub
downtown terminal
centre terminal
Transit System in Saskatoon today
dart network
bus network
cycling routes
major transit terminals
city of saskatoon limits
4
market mall terminal
Fig. 31: Street patterns in different eras
Evolution of the Street Grid
grid (prewar)
fragmented grid, cul-de-sacs (1950s-70s)
curvillinear streets and cul-de-sacs (1970s-90s)
31: Street patterns in different eras
Gridiron
(prewar)
Fragmented grid, cul-de-sacs
(1950s–70s)
Curvilinear streets and
cul-de-sacs (1970s–90s)
eras
Gridiron
(prewar)
mented grid, cul-de-sacs
(1950s–70s)
Fragmented grid, cul-de-sacs
(1950s–70s)
Curvilinear streets and
cul-de-sacs (1970s–90s)
Curvilinear streets and
cul-de-sacs (1970s–90s)
What does a typical neighbourhood cost to
build and operate?
Walking and cycling
Although Saskatonians like to walk and cycle for
recreation, a small percentage (6.2%) walk or cycle to
work. The harsh weather conditions in the wintertime
factor into this. The keys to encouraging more walking
and cycling are to: design streets and paths that are safe
and comfortable for pedestrians and cyclists; and plan
communities so that residents have the opportunity to
walk or cycle to shops, services, schools, transit stops and
places of employment.
a typical neighbourhood cost to
build and operate?
annual passenger
revenue
Capital Costs of building a
neighbourhood
ighbourhood cost to
operate?
Annual Costs of operating &
maintaining a neighbourhood
(source: Costing Mechanism to Facilitate
Sustainable Commuity Planning, CMHC
2005)
annual
(source: Costing Mechanism to Facilitate Sustainable
Commuity Planning, CMHC 2005)
roads (arterial and local)
other (police, fire, transit, recreational facilities)
schools
storm sewers
sanitary sewers
storm water treatment
water distribution
wastewater and water treatment
roads (local and arterial)
other (water distribution, sanitary sewers,
school transportation, recreational facilities)
police services
transit services
fire services
wastewater and water treatment
waste management services
passenger
revenue
uilding a
to Facilitate
ng, CMHC 2005)
annual passenger
revenue
reational facilities)
ent
The evolution of the street network
The street network plays an important role in how people
move throughout the city. Over time Saskatoon’s street
network has undergone a series of transformations
illustrated in the accompanying map. The pre-war grid
layout connects streets at regular intersections, making
it easy to move from place to place along a connected
network of streets. The network of cul-de-sacs, crescents
and other curved streets of the inner suburban areas
were built between the 1950s and 70s, and the even
less interconnected network of the outer suburbs were
developed between the 1970s and 90s. Departing from
the grid network results in less walkable neighbourhoods
and busier main roads.
*excludes schools
Annual Costs of operating &
maintaining a neighbourhood
(source: Costing Mechanism to Facilitate Sustainable
Commuity Planning, CMHC 2005)
roads (local and arterial)
other (water distribution, sanitary sewers,
school transportation, recreational facilities)
police services
transit services
fire services
wastewater and water treatment
waste management services
There are a number of initiatives to support bicycling. The
Bicycle Facility Network Study (2003) identifies 5.6 km
of existing multi-use pathways and 12.6 km of existing
on-road cycling facilities located in Saskatoon. There are
dedicated on-road bike lanes along Spadina Crescent in
the Downtown and in other locations in the city.
*excludes schools
Annual Costs of operating &
maintaining a neighbourhood
(source: Costing Mechanism to Facilitate Sustainable
Commuity Planning, CMHC 2005)
roads (local and arterial)
other (water distribution, sanitary sewers,
school transportation, recreational facilities)
police services
transit services
fire services
wastewater and water treatment
waste management services
*excludes schools
courtesy flickr uofsadvancement
Outside of the city centre,
few of Saskatoon’s main
roads are designed to
encourage walking and
cycling.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION SASKATOON SPEAKS
5
There are a number of ways to share your vision and
help shape Saskatoon’s future!
For more information please visit saskatoonspeaks.com.
Produced September 2010
Efforts were taken to ensure the accuracy of information. Updates to any of the content will be posted to the website.
We encourage everyone to return the information book for re-use at all Saskatoon Speaks events and activities.
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