SASKATOON – Leave early and be prepared to walk if need be. That advice from Saskatoon Health Region (SHR) officials who continue monitoring construction and the parking stall situation at Royal University Hospital (RUH).
Patients visiting the hospital site will have their patience put to the test and health care providers say they see their clients walk in late for appointments daily.
“Come early because it can be difficult to find a parking spot,” said Brian Berzolla, director of facilities management with the health region.
“Although they are available it may not be on the level that they want or the space they exactly need but there are parking spots available for the most part.”
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If it takes you a little while to find parking and you’re worried about running late for your appointment, officials suggest trying out the site’s shuttle service to get you there sooner. (*see below for more information)
“If you do have some issues, you know come in,” said Berzolla.
“Make sure you get that card to phone the shuttle, ask for shuttle supports or be prepared for a little bit of a walk.”
Approximately 700 staff members park off-site and either walk to work or catch a shuttle service.
“I park on 15th street and have to walk 15 minutes in the morning,” said Vincent Niccoli.
“It’s really hard to get a pass, parking is a huge issue here.”
Another 600 SHR employees park on-site using about half of all available stalls.
“There’s many places like the handicap parking, there’s specialized parking areas that staff are not permitted to park in but they can go to the extremes, to the furthest places creating a walk for them but allowing our clients to be as close as possible,” said Berzolla.
Ongoing remediation work on lower level stalls will continue and isn’t expected to wrap up until next summer.
“Right now we have approximately 1,200 total stalls on this site,” added Berzolla.
“We’re expecting another 400 once all the fixes are done so bring us to around 1,600 total stalls at this site.”
Enough parking, says Berzolla, to accommodate visitors of RUH and the new maternal and children’s hospital when it opens up.
*RUH parkade shuttle service:
- Drivers can take you to/from the level three hospital entrance within the parkade.
- They will also bring you to or drop you off at entrances outside the at old main entrance, Dubé Centre or Ellis Hall.
Shuttle hours
• Monday to Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. CT
• Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT
• Statutory holidays: Closed
Watch for a shuttle when you park and wave it down or call 1-306-514-7577 to be picked up.
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