Yorkton Regional Transportation Study Underway

Released on July 4, 2016

The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, City of Yorkton, Rural Municipality (RM) of Wallace and RM of Orkney are partnering to complete a long-range planning study in the Yorkton area.

The Yorkton Regional Transportation Study will help provincial and municipal officials better understand future transportation needs in the area.  Local residents will have an opportunity to learn more about it at an upcoming open house in Yorkton.

“Yorkton is one of the fastest growing areas of the province and enjoys the third-largest trading region,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Nancy Heppner said.  “We are pleased to partner with the city and RMs of Wallace and Orkney to plan for the future infrastructure needs of the Yorkton region.”

The study includes a review of the local road network, as well as the potential for changing traffic patterns and road requirements based on economic and population forecasts.  Traffic counts have been collected and a regional Transportation Demand Model will be developed to help generate traffic forecasts and identify future traffic patterns.

The result will be a long-range plan with road network options.

Stakeholder engagement is also key to a complete understanding of the traffic needs and expectations in the area.  Meetings and workshops will be held with key stakeholders, including members of the business community.  A public open house will be held in the Ravine Room at the Gallagher Centre on Tuesday, July 12 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. to provide local residents with information about the study as well as an opportunity to share their ideas and suggestions.

“Yorkton has experienced substantial growth over the past 10 years and is the regional economic hub for an estimated trading area of 200,000 individuals in East Central Saskatchewan and Western Manitoba,” Yorkton Mayor Bob Maloney said.  “Discussions with our business community indicate a need to improve transportation efficiencies in Yorkton and surrounding municipalities to continue to meet growing economic needs in the region.”

Representatives from the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, City of Yorkton, RM of Orkney, RM of Wallace and the study consultant (Associated Engineering) will be in attendance at the open house.

For more information about the study, please email Monique Kealey at kealeym@ae.ca or call 306-721-2466.

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For more information, contact:

Roy Lanaway
City of Yorkton
Yorkton
Phone: 306-828-2424
Email: rlanaway@yorkton.ca

Doug Wakabayashi
Highways and Infrastructure
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6815
Email: doug.wakabayashi@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-536-0049