The City of Saskatoon has revealed the routes for its new bus rapid transit lines, including the addition of a third line since city council approved the plan in November.

The new system consists of three major lines: one moving north and south, and two others crossing east and west.

The green line will stretch from University Heights, through the downtown area and end at Confederation Mall.

A long stretch of that route will parallel the red line in an effort to improve the frequency of buses along the busier sections of 22nd Street, downtown and College Drive.

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(Text KB) CBC is not responsible for 3rd party content The blue line will move between the Lawson Heights area in the north, down Warman Road, through the downtown area and along Preston Avenue S.

Plan to improve frequency

Lesley Anderson, the city's director of planning and development, said buses should be arriving less than 10 minutes apart.

Anderson said the buses will be able to move faster because some intersections with traffic lights will be set up so bus movement can be prioritized.

Some intersections with traffic lights will be set up so bus movement can be prioritized. (City of Saskatoon)

The new bus shelters will be much bigger and provide heat at the push of a button.

They will also include information on when the next bus is set to arrive.

Heated shelters

A decision has not been made on the rapid transit lines' schedule, but Anderson said it would likely be between around 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST.

City councillors have approved the roughly $120-million project.

The goal is to change the current "hub and spoke" model, which centres around major transit terminals downtown and at the university.

Anderson said construction could start in 2019, and the city is aiming for a three-year build.