‘RUSH’ HOUR TAKES ON NEW MEANING
Parking at SaskTel Centre for a Saskatchewan Rush game can sometimes get more competitive than the game itself. However, help is on the way as the city makes a number of changes,
CONSTANT PROBLEMS
Nicole Schroeder, a Rush season ticket holder who has been attending the games since the team moved to Saskatoon, says traffic has long been a problem at the venue, but is usually avoidable if you are know the best routes in and out. Patience is also advised.
“I think my worst experience was taking Highway 16 for a game this season with my brother. We left my house on the east side at 6 p.m. and we didn’t get into the SaskTel Centre until 7:35 p.m.”
She clarified more than an hour of that time was spent parked on the highway sitting in bumperto-bumper traffic.
In fact, parking woes at the centre are so common it became the catalyst for a review.
“We were receiving general complaints from the public ... about how long it was taking to get into (the venue) and park a car,” said Jay Magus, engineering manager in transportation. “Being the transportation division it’s kind of our responsibility to see what changes we can make to improve the situation.”
PHASE 1
The Rush’s popularity gave the city a perfect opportunity to observe traffic flows to find solutions to the parking woes.
Beginning in January by observing the traffic patterns at busy Rush games, city workers noted congestion problems at all major intersections leading into, and away from, the arena. Concerns were also raised over pedestrian safety and inconsistent signage.
The first round of improvements, which Magus said “immediately made an impact,” debuted on March 24. Major changes included additional access to the 60th Street parking lot, new and consistent messaging on digital signs and the restructuring of Apex Street east of Thatcher Avenue into two lanes of one-way traffic — a change both noticed and appreciated by Schroeder.
PHASE 2
Observations after the implementation of the first changes were positive, noting minimal delays and spillback, with less congestion at Marquis Drive and Thatcher Avenue.
The second phase of improvements began on April 8, continuing the changes to traffic flow. Traffic cones and temporary signs creating a dual right-turning lane from Marquis Drive onto Bill Hunter Avenue were utilized to stop motorists from causing additional congestion after turning off Highway 16 and immediately attempting to merge into the right-turning lane, and once the main lot was filled, SaskTel Centre staff began directing traffic towards the parking lots along 60th Street.
INTO THE FUTURE
“At the onset, we thought we would maybe look at a new access off Highway 16,” said Magus. “But once we saw the success of these relatively inexpensive and immediate changes we made that’s already improved things significantly we haven’t made any recommendations long term about anything large.”
Instead, Magus said the city is looking to pave the gravel portion of Apex Street and install sidewalks on Apex Street and Thatcher Avenue to provide improved safety for pedestrians. The cost of these future improvements would total about $700,000.