Ontario Government Provides Funding For Public Transit in Peterborough Under Gas Tax Program

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The Ontario government is providing more money to support the expansion and improvement of public transit services in the County of Peterborough; giving $1,827,406 as part of the province’s gas tax program.

file photo.

“We know that municipal transit systems are essential to the success of our communities. They connect people and families to jobs, education, medical appointments, groceries and housing,” said Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough- Kawartha. “Under Premier Ford’s leadership, our government continues to step up to the plate to provide the funding municipalities need to ensure transit remains a safe and reliable option in communities across Ontario.”

Funding for the gas tax program is determined by the number of litres of gasoline sold in the province during the previous year. Municipalities that support public transit services in their community receive two cents per litre of provincial gas tax revenue collected.

To make up for reduced gas sales due to ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s gas tax program includes one-time additional funding of $80 million to help ensure municipalities can continue to support their transit systems.

“Public transit is a key driver of economic growth in Ontario, helping people get to where they need to go, whether it is to work, school, or run errands. As more people return to public transit, our government is providing municipalities with the funding they need to accommodate growing ridership, while ensuring they can continue to deliver safe and reliable transit service for people in their communities,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation.

Gas tax funding can be used to extend service hours, buy transit vehicles, add routes, improve accessibility or upgrade local infrastructure.

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Changes To Transit Services During The New Year Holiday

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Peterborough Transit holiday service changes will be in place until Jan. 7, 2022.

All routes:

  • All late evening trips that depart after 11:30 p.m. are cancelled between the period until Jan. 7, 2022

  • On Friday all routes end early with the last trip departing no later than 7:15 p.m. Extended New Year’s Eve service will not be offered this year.

  • On Saturday there will be no service.

Additional changes:

  • All weekday Route 11/11A Water trips will be cancelled until Friday, January 7, 2022.

  • Friday the Route 2 Chemong trip departing from Rowberry at 7:15 p.m. will end at the Peterborough Terminal.

Transit Customer Service

The Customer Service desk at the Simcoe Street Terminal will operate with adjusted hours for the holiday period.

  • Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  • Saturday: closed

Regular hours resume at the Simcoe Street Bus Terminal on Jan. 2, 2022.

For questions about Transit service, call Transit Operations at 705-745-0525 or by email at transitoperations@peterborough.ca.

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Changes To Transit Services During The Holidays

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Peterborough Transit holiday service changes will be in place from Dec. 23, until Jan. 7, 2022.

All routes:

  • All late evening trips that depart after 11:30 p.m. are cancelled between the period from Thursday December 23, 2021 to Friday January 7, 2022

  • On Friday December 24, all routes end early with the last trip departing no later than 7:30 p.m.

  • On Friday December 31, all routes end early with the last trip departing no later than 7:15 p.m. Extended New Year’s Eve service will not be offered this year.

  • On Saturday December 25 and Saturday January 1 there will be no service.

Additional changes:

  • All weekday Route 11/11A Water trips will be cancelled for the period of Thursday, December 23 to Friday, January 7, 2022.

  • On Friday, December 24 and Friday, December 31, the Route 2 Chemong trip departing from Rowberry at 7:15 p.m. will end at the Peterborough Terminal.

Transit Customer Service

The Customer Service desk at the Simcoe Street Terminal will operate with adjusted hours for the holiday period.

  • Friday, December 24: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  • Saturday, December 25: closed

  • Sunday, December 26: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • Monday, December 27 to Thursday, December 30: 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

  • Friday, December 31: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  • Saturday, January 1: closed

Regular hours resume at the Simcoe Street Bus Terminal on Jan. 2, 2022.

For questions about Transit service, call Transit Operations at 705-745-0525 or by email at transitoperations@peterborough.ca.

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Facebook Page Launched To Raise Awareness About Proposed Cuts To Peterborough Public Transit

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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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