The Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC) was a Crown corporation in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan responsible for operating intercity bus routes in the province from 1946 to 2017. Created in 1946 by an Order in Council giving the company a mandate to provide service between major urban centres and to as much of the rural population as possible, STC was a wholly owned subsidiary of the Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan.
 | |
 An MCI bus being serviced in Saskatoon | |
| Parent | Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1946 |
| Ceased operation | May 31, 2017 |
| Headquarters | 1717 Saskatchewan Drive Regina, Saskatchewan |
| Service area | Saskatchewan |
| Service type | bus service, bus charter and bus parcel express |
| Routes | 27 |
| Destinations | Over 250 |
| Stations | Over 170 |
| Fleet | Over 40 |
| Website | www.stcbus.com |
The government of Saskatchewan announced on March 22, 2017 that it planned to shut down STC by the end of May 2017. Freight services were terminated effective May 19, and passenger services were terminated effective May 31.[1]
Facilities edit
STC owned and operated bus depots in Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert.[2] It also had numerous ticket agencies in communities throughout the province and served as an agent for Greyhound tickets at many of its locations. Since the closure of STC and the discontinuation of Greyhound Canada service, these facilities have since been redeveloped for other uses such as offices and retail.
Regina Terminal edit
- Address: 1717 Saskatchewan Drive, Regina
- Coordinates: 50°27′06″N 104°36′19″W / 50.45167°N 104.60528°W
- Facility includes: Head office, STC bus station, STC freight terminal, Greyhound Canada service, Robin's Donuts
- Opened: October 8, 2008[3]
Saskatoon Terminal edit
- Address: 50 – 23rd Street East, Saskatoon
- Coordinates: 52°07′52″N 106°40′02″W / 52.13111°N 106.66722°W
- Facility includes: STC bus station, STC freight terminal, Greyhound Canada service, Robin's Donuts
Prince Albert Terminal edit
- Address: 99 – 15th Street East, Prince Albert
- Coordinates: 53°11′57″N 105°45′06″W / 53.19917°N 105.75167°W
- Facility includes: STC bus station, STC freight terminal, Greyhound Canada service
Agencies edit
- The Saskatchewan Transportation Company worked with over 170 private companies within the province to provide local passenger and express depots to rural communities. These locations were referred to as agencies and made up the ground work by which STC was able to provide service to the people of Saskatchewan.[4]
Services edit
Maintenance edit
The Saskatchewan Transportation Company operated Maintenance Facilities in Regina and Saskatoon, which allowed for the efficient operation of their fleet and provided an array of services to foreign fleet customers.
Saskatoon Bus Service Centre edit
- Address: 88 King Street, Saskatoon
- Coordinates: 52°08′21″N 106°39′47″W / 52.13917°N 106.66306°W
Regina Bus Maintenance Centre edit
- Address: 9th Avenue and Wallace Street, Regina
- Coordinates: 50°27′14″N 104°35′38″W / 50.45389°N 104.59389°W
Passenger edit
STC operated a number of routes to both urban and rural communities across Saskatchewan. Many STC passenger coaches were wheelchair accessible and all were Wi-Fi equipped.
Express edit
STC had a history of package delivery across Saskatchewan. Many people relied on STC to transport packages, parcels, and equipment to rural areas. While providing overnight service to many locations, STC also provided customers with door-to-door pick-up and delivery in major centres.
Charter edit
STC provided charter services to a number of groups and organizations every year in Saskatchewan. Many corporations, sports teams, and clubs chose STC when travelling to functions both in and out of province. Charters were available any day of the week and for various lengths of time subject to availability.[5]
Employees edit
STC employed over 230 people. All In Scope employees were members of the Amalgamated Transit Union.[6]
Closure and sale of assets edit
The provincial government shut down STC in 2017 as part of spending cutbacks. Ridership had decreased 77 percent since its peak in 1980, and only two of its 27 routes turned a profit. The opposition NDP criticized the shutdown, saying it would hurt rural residents who relied upon the service for parcel delivery and transportation for medical appointments in larger centres.[7]
The company's assets were sold for $29 million, slightly more than their appraised value of $25.7 million (CAD).[8]
References edit
- ^ Warick, Jason (March 22, 2017). "Government shuttering STC". CBC News. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
- ^ STC Locations: Depots
- ^ New Passenger and Freight Terminal Opening
- ^ STC Agencies
- ^ STC Charter Services
- ^ ATU Local 1374 Saskatchewan Archived 2006-05-22 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "STC not coming back — even as gov't repeals Bill 40, minister says". CBC News. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ Latimer, Kendall (13 December 2017). "Saskatchewan sells STC assets for $29M, slightly more than appraised value". CBC News. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
External links edit
