By Tyler Marr

Residence, parking, transit planning ahead for downtown U of S campus

Mar 27, 2018 | 5:00 PM

With upwards of 350 new students and staff expected to surge into the downtown core when the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) opens its campus in 2020, city planners have a number of items flagged that need to be addressed.

The U of S announced earlier this month they plan to house all their programs under one roof at the Forestry Centre building on Central Ave. as part of an $8 million deal. Top of mind for many is, of course, finding a spot for vehicles. Director of Planning and Development Services Craig Guidinger said remaining flexible in this area will be key.

“We will come up with some solution and parking option,” he said. “I am very comfortable in saying we will make sure we will meet their needs and they will meet ours.”

One remedy for this situation could be found on Keri Sapsford’s desk. The transportation and traffic manager said the influx of youth, who tend to be keen on using public transportation, will be an exciting opportunity for the system. She said a number of meetings are on the books between the city and university on this matter.

“We will talk on how we are going to accommodate all 300 plus students and teachers and everyone else and deal with parking and transit to make sure that our system can handle it,” Sapsford said, highlighting the possibility of special passes.

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All of the lights along Central Ave. are not warranted for the amount of traffic using the street, though the high pedestrian traffic does lend a need for crossing signals, Sapsford said any future traffic counts are up in the air. A recent plan to remove the set of lights at Central Ave. and 11th Street, directly in front of the future campus, was reversed last summer after traffic counts showed they were not needed.

“With all of Central Ave. bring looked at right now as far as the redesign, all that and the traffic lights will be in there,” she added.

Housing the students is another item set to come up during discussions. Guidinger said with a high number of mixed-use developments in the area, “owners of those buildings certainly have a unique opportunity.”

“There may be some residents looking to stay right in the downtown core, which will be great, but we don’t know what those needs are going to be exactly,” he said. “We will see what they have for student numbers and we will go from there.”

Ultimately, Guidinger said the university making the investment in Prince Albert’s downtown core was already “a huge feather in our cap” and the city will remain flexible to develop a clear picture of what the U of S and the city needs to accommodate what is being called a major boost for P.A. and the North.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr