Saskatoon city council votes against 1st Avenue BRT stop - Saskatoon | Globalnews.ca

Saskatoon’s debate around the 1st Avenue BRT platform has come to a close, after the motion for the controversial concept was struck down by a single vote. The debate in Saskatoon city council went on for over six hours. A number of speakers representing the various interests of the area took the podium to explain their support and their objections to the project.Chief among them was Michael Mehak with Mehak Kelly and Associates, the company that manages Midtown Mall.“As a central hub that welcomes 4.3 million visitors annually, contributes an estimated $207 million to Saskatoon’s economy, a modern reliable transit system is essential to the continued vibrancy and the accessibility of Midtown,” said Mehak. Get daily National news Get daily Canada news delivered to your inbox so you'll never miss the day's top stories. Sign up for daily National newsletter Get Started By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. He represents the view that short-term disruptions are worth the long-term downtown accessibility. Story continues below advertisement “Midtown acknowledges that construction will bring temporary challenges, but stresses that the long-term benefit, increased accessibility and increased foot traffic, and a more connected city will far outweigh short term disruptions,” said MehakDTN YXE, the organization representing businesses in the downtown core, raised concerns with the restrictions to parking that the BRT stop would create. Shawna Nelson has been working with businesses that would be directly impacted.“There’s still a lot of unknowns to whether there’s going to be solution to some of the impacts happening on these businesses, if the design as it is today is to go through,” said Nelson More on Canada More videos Group calls on Ontario to redirect alcohol revenue to deal with harms of drinking Cost of doing business in Kelowna grows amid social disorder Slain Montreal officer André Lalonde remembered 30 years later, case still unsolved Amnesty International report warns of deepening Indigenous people’s housing crisis Carney promises ‘good news’ ahead of spring economic update Families of Tumbler Ridge victims file lawsuits against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman Business Matters: Cellphone, internet and TV complaints in Canada up 61% BIV: Big Way Hot Pot chain launching major expansion That design was ultimately voted against. Failing by just one vote. Coun. Pierce attempted to raise a motion to defer the issue to next year that was also defeated by one vote.Mayor Cynthia block expressed her frustration with the outcome as she counted the vote.“Do the math, I think it fails. It fails by one vote. Now we’re in uncharted territory where we have no direction, what say you council?” said Mayor Block.Now, city council goes back to the drawing board for a downtown BRT terminal. No alternative location has yet been introduced.