Thinking Of A Masterplan: City of Peterborough Displays Transportation Plan

Last night at the Evinrude Centre was the third and last Public Involvement Centre (PICs) meeting. The City of Peterborough showed Morrison Hershfield's recommended Road Network plan, Cycling Network plan and Pedestrian Network plan.

The new Masterplan is an update to the 2002 Transport Plan to address Peterborough's population growth and traffic concerns. 

Studies have shown that streets with no sidewalks have 2.6 times more pedestrian collisions, so the new plan calls for sidewalks on both sides of all new and existing streets.

Work is already underway as well on both the Hospital Access Road extension and to widen the West end of Lansdowne, but there is plenty of other planned—and suggested—roadwork to come. Indeed, $14 million is budgeted to improve the Nassau Mills Bridge over the Otonabee River, widen Nassau Mills from Water to Armour, make improvements to Chemong/Reid, the Charlotte Westbound Parking lane conversion, and to widen Eastbound Sherbrooke. 

As we previously reported, many residents of Fairbairn Ave were very interested in the City's Medium term plans to build a two lane road from Fairbairn to Cumberland. Some consider it the City trying to still put through the Parkway Extension.

[Related: For coverage of the proposed changes to Peterborough's Trail Network as part of the Peterborough Network Cycling plan, head to TrailSwag, a blog about outdoors news in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.]

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Last Night There Was An Amazing #thinkPtbo Tweetup At Silver Bean Cafe (And All The Guys Left Their Shirts On)

Last night at the Silver Bean Cafe, 28 people who use the popular online social network Twitter, came together to make new connections and form a social think tank on many recent discussion topics. Some of the items covered were..

• How can we cultivate the creative economy in Peterborough? #creativePtbo
• Beyond the Fashion District, what areas of Peterborough should we highlight and name? #districtPtbo
• What is your favourite store in downtown Peterborough and why? #downtownPtbo
• How can we use Twitter to welcome newcomers to Peterborough? #newtoPtbo
• How can we use Twitter to ensure that men wear their shirts in Peterborough, even when it is hot outside? #noshirtsPtbo

If you missed the tweetup—and many were following from home on Twitter—you can read the tweet discussion stream (or add to it) by using the hash-tag #thinkPtbo.

Many great ideas were raised, and there are sure to be follow-up meets online and offline for #thinkPtbo.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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"The Berlin Blues" Kicks Off 20th Season Of 4th Line Theatre This Week

Rehearsal for "The Berlin Blues"

The 20th season of 4th Line Theatre begins tonight with a preview of The Berlin Blues, by Drew Hayden Taylor. The play officially opens this Thursday night (June 30th) and runs until July 23. Here's what it is about, according to the synopsis on the 4th Line Theatre website:

BUMPER CANOES! LASER BEAM DREAM CATCHERS! Dances With Wolves: The Musical! They're all part of the zany plan German developers hatch to build the world's largest Native theme park - "Ojibway World". Set in an Ontario First Nation's community, this funny and thought-provoking play offers a human take on the pros and cons of change and just how much one can or should give up to prosper.

Have a look at 4th Line's entire 2011 schedule and ticket pricing.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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Peterborough Amateur Radio Club Is Hosting 24 Hour "Field Day" Right Now

Each year on the fourth weekend in June, more than 35,000 radio amateurs gather around North America to operate from remote locations for what is known as "Field Day", sponsored by Radio Amateurs of Canada and the American Radio Relay League. The local Peterborough Amateur Radio Club (PARC) has set up in the parking lot of Rogers Cove for the event. The event began at 2 p.m. today and will continue until 2 p.m. tomorrow afternoon, so be sure to drop by to chat and learn more about our local club.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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PtboPics: National Canoe Day At Beavermead Park

Lots of local folks gathered at Beavermead Park today to celebrate National Canoe Day. With children's activities, continuous paddling opportunities, a BBQ, displays from the Trent Severn Antique & Classic Boat Association and musical entertainment, there was something for everyone. I was able to participate in the family paddle and enjoyed the calmness of the water while learning about the Canadian Canoe Museum and its history from our guide Barry.  —PtboCanada's Julie Morris

At right: Young paddlers Nate & Tori make sure they have the right paddles

The Canada Parks mascot, Parka, gives a wave

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National Canoe Day Activities Saturday & Sunday in Peterborough

National Canoe Day gets underway Saturday at 11 a.m., with activities taking place throughout the day at Beavermead Park. Then on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., you are invited to tour the Canadian Canoe Museum—free of charge! Bring the family and come and enjoy all things paddling!

[National Canoe Day; Canadian Canoe Museum]

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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Howard Hospital Fundraiser Takes Place Saturday Night At Market Hall

[Market Hall]

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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Some Findings And Input From The Parkway Road Meeting On Impact On Community

There were more than 40 people in attendance Monday night as Peterborough's James Burrett introduced us to the continued work by the City of Peterborough on moving traffic through our city. The main issue that keeps creeping up every ten years or so, he pointed out, is the intended Parkway route. Recently, City council endorsed a $52.3M roads plan that included a two lane road as part of the Northern Parkway extension route. James was heavily involved with the Parkway Referendum and believes this:

"There is more to a community than just how much time it takes to get from Point A to Point B."

Derrick Foley has volunteered to help with public awareness and says that there will need to be 5,000 to 10,000 signatures to make City Hall recognize the issue. What was odd, it was pointed out, was that so much money was going towards this extension route and yet not one of the ten highest accident intersections are being improved. As was pointed out:

"What is $52 million dollars going to solve when we don't really need this? We are a very green community. Tell your councillors that this makes no sense."

The City of Peterborough and Morrison Hershfield invite you to the third and last Public Involvement Centre (PICs) being held June 28th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Evinrude Centre to seek input on the following:

• Phasing of the previously recommended Road Network Improvements.
• Trail/cycling network improvements.
• Key policy initiatives to support transit, active transportation and transportation demand management.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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