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“We do not believe that the potential benefits outweigh the risks,” Wilson said.

The committee was not expected to make any decisions, but only receive an update on the project. Mayor Charlie Clark warned those in attendance that council was not going to make a decision; they opted to speak anyway.

The city’s original proposal for the system pitched bus-only lanes on Broadway, College Drive and Third Avenue downtown.

After hearing opposition to Third and Broadway, the city is now considering moving the downtown bus-only lanes to First Avenue, where the Midtown Plaza is located.

Three options are under consideration for Broadway: bus-only lanes, mixed traffic with no dedicated bus lanes and moving the bus route so it travels down Eighth Street to Idylwyld Drive and over the Senator Sidney L. Buckwold Bridge to downtown.

Debbie Taylor, who operates the Hats & That store on Broadway, presented council with 370 more signatures on a petition indicating opposition to the bus-only lanes on Broadway. Taylor presented a similar petition with 400 names this summer.

She also presented a petition in opposition to the Broadway bus-only lanes signed by 27 Broadway merchants.

Nutana resident Mary Melnychuk said she is “appalled” the city would consider a project that could threaten the character of the Broadway district.

“Please do not destroy more of what little history we have left,” she said.

Another Nutana resident, John Perret, said the city failed to consult with nearby residents, although Clark pointed out the city had been consulting about revamping Saskatoon Transit service for two years.