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Saskatoon’s Bus Rapid Transit, or Link, full-scale launch will be delayed by one year, according to a new report that will go to the city’s Governance and Priorities Committee next week.
Until a few months ago, the goal was to launch the system in summer 2028.
The report will be presented to city councillors at the Nov. 10 meeting. It outlines the reasons for the delay, including the redesign and approval process for the First Avenue South corridor.
Read more:
- City council puts brakes on First Avenue Bus Rapid Transit plans
- Saskatoon city council decides on rapid transit design for First Avenue corridor
- New Saskatoon BRT stations and platforms expected to be completed by October
According to Mike Moellenbeck, director of Saskatoon Transit, “The completion of the First Avenue corridor itself, and the dedicated centre-running lanes there, remains an obstacle to a full operational launch in 2028.”
“Alongside that, having transit hubs open and operational — these are key pieces of infrastructure, and having those in place helps make sure that we are ensuring a launch that is set for success,” he added during a telephone interview.
In late April 2026, Saskatoon city council put the brakes on plans for the BRT corridor between 19th Street and 25th Street.
Council asked administration to meet with the Saskatoon Accessibility Advisory Committee to review the accessibility plan, then to “report back with broader operational considerations, including emergency response planning, emergency access and snow removal plans.”
At the time, Terry Schmidt, general manager of transportation and construction, cautioned council that any changes to the plans would likely require approval from the federal government and could push back the project’s timeline.
The matter came back before council about five months later, in late September. In a 6-4 vote, council decided to proceed with a recommendation from administration.
“With construction requiring at least one full construction season in 2028, construction on First Avenue will not be complete by summer 2028,” Moellenbeck wrote in his report for Tuesday’s committee meeting.
An artist’s rendering of what the BRT platforms will look like in the future, with a shelter. (City of Saskatoon/Submitted)
Moellenbeck said detailed design work on the First Avenue portion of the project is now underway and will require at least one full year of construction.
“Completion by July 2028 isn’t going to be feasible,” he added.
Despite weather-related delays this season, Moellenbeck said work along the College Drive corridor is expected to be completed and operational from Clarence Avenue to Preston Avenue by the end of 2027.
Darcy Pederson, Amalgamated Transit Union president, said he was surprised to learn of the overall project timeline delays.
There will be some financial implications. According to the report, operating requirements for the increased service delivery were estimated at $11 million in the 2026-27 budget submission.
That figure has now increased to $13.5 million. Any additional capital costs have not yet been presented.
Moellenbeck said the BRT project will now be phased in, with some service improvements starting as early as January 2027.
These include new bus shelters with on-demand heat, next-bus displays and CCTV; neighbourhood service expansion, including Aspen Ridge; and transit signal priority and queue-jump lanes as they are built.
