City Council has endorsed cutting $422,000 from the city's $9.8-million budget for public transit, and the implications of these service cuts to bus service if approved are significant. According to a new Facebook page launched to raise awareness about the proposed cuts, the cuts to bus service would include:

-stop at 6:40 pm rather than 11:20 pm on Saturdays
-run between 8:40-5:20 pm on Sundays rather than 8:00 am-7:20 pm
-the Major Bennett bus route on Sundays will be eliminated
-Technology Drive service will be reduced from 6 to 4 trips on weekdays

"Cutting funding to public transit is a regressive action and will affect those who do not have access to private transportation or have disabilities," the Facebook page states. "It is okay to examine routes that are underused but please keep the money in the system to keep it strong."

The Facebook page is encouraging those who care about the future of public transit in Peterborough to come out to council chambers next Tuesday (January 25th, 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.) for a public meeting and have their say. The draft budget goes to city council January 31.

What do you think about the proposed cuts?

[photo via Speak up for Peterborough Public Transit Facebook page]

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Update on 2011-01-23 19:15 by PTBOCANADA

Councillor Lesley Parnell -- "Now that I have the facts on ridership, we will need to make sure both Saturday night and Sunday night ( convension and handivan) are NOT cut." See our Reader Comments section on post for her full letter.