City Of Peterborough Posts Transportation Master Plan With Review Period Open Until Aug. 21

The Transportation Master Plan, now known as Move PTBO, has been posted for an official review period from July 20 to Aug. 21, announced by The City of Peterborough on Friday.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

The review is required under the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process as stated by The City. Council approved in principle the study recommendations on March 28.

The Plan is a long-range, strategic document to help guide the future of transportation city-wide according to a press release. It includes recommendations for the transportation network and an implementation strategy to support growth and mobility needs for the year 2051.

The study goals, as identified through extensive consultation in the development of the study are:

• Develop a well-rounded transportation system to support the growth and prosperity of the City

• Connect the City, regional and provincial transportation systems

• Encourage sustainable modes of travel and contribute to healthier and liveable communities

• Support the movement of people and goods through an efficient multi-modal system to meet all needs

The study is available online or can be viewed in hard copy at City Hall, 500 George St. N.

All comments during the study review period are added to the public record, excluding personal information. Written comments can be sent to:

• Vinod Soman, Transportation Senior Project Manager, City of Peterborough, 500 George St. N., Peterborough, Ontario K9H 3R9, 705-742-7777 ext. 1749, MovePTBO@peterborough.ca 

• Brett Sears, Senior Project Manager Transportation Planning and Science, WSP Canada Inc., 289-982-4751, MovePTBO@peterborough.ca

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26th Annual Transportation Day Car and Motorcycle Show is Coming to Lang Pioneer Village Museum in July

Lang Pioneer Village Museum invites the public to the 26th Annual Transportation Day Car and Motorcycle Show on Sunday, July 9 to witness a timeline of transportation from across Ontario.

photo courtesy of the Lang Pioneer Village Museum.

Transportation enthusiasts will showcase their antique and classic cars and vintage motorcycles throughout the historic village from 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Take a stroll through the village or hop on board a horse-drawn wagon ride, learn more about how transportation has changed over the years and the roles that various trades played in the creation of transportation methods.

Attendees can check out a variety of 19th-century modes of transportation such as sleighs, wagons and milk carts in the Transportation Barn. Stop by the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building (PCAHB) to view a Via Rail display, and enjoy music from the 50s to 80s with DJ Del and Jenny Jams.

View an antique clock and timepiece collection in the Menie General Store and see a variety of historic demonstrations throughout the village; such as broom making, shingle making at the Shingle Mill, and grinding at the Lang Grist Mill. Kids can take part in some schoolyard games and make a craft at the Ayotte Cabin.

Demonstrators and visitors can enjoy a pancake breakfast served while supplies last in the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building (additional fee applies).

The Keene Lions Club food truck will be onsite selling BBQ goods and there will be fresh Empire Cheese curd and bread available for purchase in the Cheese Factory. Haven Brewing Company will be also be at the event selling traditional European beers in the beer garden.

For those wishing to bring their vehicle to display, participant registration runs from 8 a.m. to noon with a $10 registration fee that includes admission into the village. The first 200 vehicles to enter will receive a complimentary dash plaque as a souvenir of their participation. Over 25 trophies will be awarded including the coveted People’s Choice and Lang’s Choice.

Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors (60+), $7 for youths (ages 5-14) and free for children under 5. Family admission is also available for $40 and includes 2 adults and up to 4 youths (ages 5-14). Visitors may purchase admission in advance via the Museum’s online shop, but advance purchase is not required. For more information, visit the website.

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PedalBoro Returns to the Peterborough Downtown Streets For the Season

The 15-seater PedalBoro bike is returning to Downtown Peterborough streets to tour the craft beer scene for another season, announced on Wednesday.

Roughly 60 per cent of PedalBoro goers were from out of town according to PEdalBoro. Photo courtesy of PedalBoro.

The cycling begins this weekend as PedalBoro will have cycling tours running from June until October.  The booking calendar is open as the party bike is available from Friday through Sunday for pub crawl tours, private parties as well as one-of-a-kind team building experiences according to a press release.

“As we embark on our third year in operations, we are opening this season with a real sense of purpose,” said Peter Rellinger, PedalBoro captain. “Our mission has always been to showcase the incredible people and places that make downtown Peterborough so unique. PedalBoro tours build connection and community pride back into our downtown core, add in a little dash of adventure and we are able to create this special sauce that can only really be experienced by bike.”

Last year, the unique bike aided in downtown spending with an average of 89 per cent of tour guests supporting core area restaurants, cafés and pubs before and after tours as stated in a press release.

“As our community continues to show its resiliency through economic hardship PedalBoro has an important role to play,” said Hillary Flood, ‘Party Pixie.’ “We are here to roll up our sleeves and do our part- and to do it with a bit of flair and a whole lot of razzmatazz.”

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Hometown PTBO: Scott Stewart On Bringing Passenger Flights to Peterborough Airport

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with Scott Stewart, Blowes & Stewart Travel Group president about bringing passenger flights to the Peterborough Airport, being able to fly again last year after a three-year hiatus and how the company determines flight destinations.

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Roy Weirenga Becomes New CAO For Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario

Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario (STSCO) has introduced Roy Wierenga as their Chief Administrative Officer beginning May 8, announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of PVNCCDSB.

Weirenga is bringing 35 years of student transportation experience to the position according to a press release.

The company is responsible for planning school bus routes for Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir schools.

“I have always felt so fortunate and blessed to be able to work in a profession that supports students and education," said Wierenga. "When we do our jobs well in transportation, and students arrive safely and on time at school, this has such a positive impact on student success.”

The position is a bit of a homecoming since he began his career working in Peterborough for Trentway-Wagar Bus Lines and then as Manager of Transportation for the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. Weirenga was involved in the establishment of STSCO in 2005 before accepting a position with the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) as General Manager.

In the past decade, Wierenga has been employed with Student Transportation of Peel Region (STOPR), working with industry and government committees that examined changes for improving student transportation across Ontario.

“I am thrilled that my journey in student transportation has now brought me back home to Peterborough where my career started many years ago," said Wierenga. "I look forward to working with the team at STSCO, our member school boards and bus operators, to find solutions that will ensure a safe and sustainable transportation network for our students and school communities going into the future."

Wierenga will replace long-serving CAO Joel Sloggett, who will be retiring from STSCO after 18 years.

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Seasonal Changes to Peterborough Transit Routes Effective April 30

Peterborough Transit will implement seasonal changes to some of its routes beginning April 30.

photo courtesy of the city of peterborough.

Route 5 The Parkway

Weekday Southbound and Northbound routes will operate on hourly service from 7:45 p.m. until 11:35 p.m.On Sunday the last trip will depart at 7:35 p.m.Late night service will be suspended

Route 6 Sherbrooke

Westbound 7:22 a.m. trip will be cancelledWestbound and Eastbound will operate with regular 30-minute service from 7:40 p.m. to 11:50 p.m.Late night service will be suspended

Route 7 Lansdowne

The 7:50 a.m. trip from Willowcreek to Fleming will be suspended.Route 7 will follow the 7A seasonal route from May to October, via Ashburnham, the Lift Lock and Hunter.. Stops on Rogers Street between Maria Street and Hunter Street will continue to be served by Route 4 trips.

Route 10 Technology Drive

Afternoon service will be reinstated with trips from the terminal departing at 2:15 p.m., 2:50 p.m. and 3:25 p.m.

OnDemand/Pink Community Bus

Afternoon service from 1:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. will be suspended

Route 11 Water

Route 11 and 11A Water serving Trent University will be suspended

Stay up-to-date with service changes

Transit customers are encouraged to check route schedules and stay up-to-date with adjustments to Transit routes, including weather delays, service interruptions and cancellations:

Follow Peterborough Transit on Twitter: @ptbo_transit, or subscribe to text/SMS or email updates through MyBEAT.

Plan your trip with Google Maps or the Transit appVisit our service alerts webpage for real-time Twitter Timeline updates on peterborough.ca/TransitServiceAlerts

Customer service can be reached at 705-745-0525.

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Ontario’s Transportation Planning Survey Coming to Randomly Selected Households in Peterborough

Starting last fall and continuing this spring, approximately 1.4 million households in the Greater Golden Horseshoe and surrounding areas, including Peterborough, will be asked to take part in the Transportation Tomorrow Survey (TTS).

file photo.

The Transportation Tomorrow Survey is jointly undertaken by 25 funding agencies including the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO), Metrolinx, the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission), and municipalities across the study area. Results from this survey will help local and regional governments, as well as the province and transit agencies, make transportation planning and investment decisions.

Randomly selected households will receive an official invitation letter informing them they have been selected to take part in the survey. The invitation letter will provide households with a secure access code and more information about the survey. Participation in the survey is voluntary. Households can participate by accessing the project website, or by calling the survey hotline at 1-877-216-7786.

Canadian-based research firm R. A. Malatest & Associates Ltd. will conduct the survey on behalf of the participating agencies. The study runs from the fall of 2022 until spring of 2023 and the results will be and released in 2024. The Transportation Tomorrow Survey has been administered every five years since 1986.

Survey questions will focus on trip information for each household member, including origin, destination, time, reason for travel, mode of transportation, as well as some basic demographic questions. Residents that did not make any trips can still participate in the survey, as this helps build a snapshot of the travel patterns of the population as a whole and ensures the survey reflects the make-up of the general population. All survey responses will remain anonymous and will be combined with other responses in order to identify travel patterns.

For more information, visit the link.

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Peterborough Transit Presents Free Grade 8 March Break Transit Quest

The Grade 8 Transit Quest program encourages students to use Peterborough Transit by providing them with a free transit pass for the March Break through GreenUp. (March 10 to 19)

photo courtesy of peterborough transit.

Participants can use this transit pass to travel to featured attractions and businesses which they check off on their Transit Quest Passport.

The Quest works to increase the City youth’s familiarity of the Peterborough Transit system as they begin to travel independently. By increasing comfort at this age, transit can become a mode of transportation that is both normal and accessible. Navigating their local transit service helps students build a life skill, one that they will use as they get part-time jobs, go off to school and move or travel to other cities.

For event details or more information, contact Ashley Burnie.

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Applications Open For the City of Peterborough’s New Transit Liaison Committee

The City of Peterborough is accepting applications for the new Transit Liaison Committee until March 10 at 4:30 p.m.

photo courtesy of the city of PETERBOROUGH.

The mandate of the Transit Liaison Committee is to connect customers and stakeholder groups directly to Transit staff.

Applicants must be a resident of the City of Peterborough who rides Peterborough Transit. Applicants will need to indicate which of the following positions they are applying for:

• Transit Rider – Conventional Transit Service

• Transit Rider – Specialized Van/Mobility Transit Service

Applications will be reviewed by the Citizen Appointment Selection Committee and an interview may be required. The Citizen Appointment Selection Committee will recommend appointees to Council for their consideration.

The Peterborough Transit Liaison Committee will include:

• City Councillor - transportation chair

• City Councillor - councillor at large

• Transit rider - conventional transit service (two positions)

• Transit rider - specialized van/mobility transit service (two positions)

• A representative from each of the following organizations:

• Accessibility Advisory Committee

• Age Friendly Peterborough

• Council for Persons with Disabilities

• Fleming College Student Association

• Peterborough Green Up

• Trent Central Student Association

The new Transit Liaison Committee will complement Peterborough Transit’s existing communication channels to solicit and receive public feedback, including the online Transit Feedback Form, online Driver Appreciation Form and the in-person customer ambassador program.

Applications are available online, and hard copies are available at the Clerk’s Office at City Hall (500 George St. N)

Completed applications may be submitted online, dropped off or mailed to City Hall no later than March 10.

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

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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