Saskatoons plan for Idylwyld, which would see one lane of motor vehicle traffic removed and add raised bike paths, has reignited an age-old debate in the city.

The message was clear in a recent report. SaskTel Centre and TCU Place are done, and costs to replace will rise with time.

Saskatoon is going to pot or, rather, pot is coming to Saskatoon. So what can be expected at the local level once recreational pot becomes legal, and the province delivers enabling legislation so each municipality can begin licensing retail outlets and cafes?

In 2018, three d words are going to emerge as key subjects in the public discussion about Saskatoons growth and development: density, design and dollars.

You could be forgiven for missing any reference in the recently released Saskatoon budget to vision, strategic planning, long-range planning or the growth plan to half a million people. The reason you missed it is because these things are barely mentioned anywhere.

It will be one thing to change Saskatoon's transit service, reconfigure the roadway and implement new technology for a better public transit service but it will be something altogether different to change the public's attitude towards using it.

How will Saskatoon react to the offer of providing a public transit service which has a goal of eventually moving eight per cent of the citys commuters on a daily basis?