Saskatoon Transit will go back to charging fares as of June 8th, the same day the province begins Phase 3 of re-opening the economy.
Riders would go back to entering from the front instead of the back and there will be clear vinyl panels to protect the drivers.
In response to COVID-19, barriers had been added behind the operator’s station, but those will be taken down and the flexible panels that take up less room will be put up instead.
Transit Director Jim McDonald says that will open up seats for another 3 to 5 passengers.
The physical distancing measures will remain and ridership will go from around 10 to somewhere between 13 and 15, depending on where people sit as compared to full capacity of between 60 and 70 passengers.

It’s expected with the re-introduction of fares, Saskatoon Transit will see a reduction in the number of transit riders who don’t have anywhere to go, adding a bit more capacity for those with a destination.
There have been times when some riders have been left behind because there is no room, so McDonald says they are trying to juggle buses that were previously on peak routes, for instance to and from the university, to add more buses where they are needed.
Peak times have changed as well, to between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

At a special council meeting Wednesday, there was an amended motion to have everything but the fares begin on June 8th and then an extra week of getting the word out before instituting fares on the 15th, but the vote was 6 to 5 against.
The original motion for all changes to begin June 8th was passed unanimously.