Peterborough Transit Explained

Peterborough Transit
Founded:1978 (Originally 1893)
Headquarters:190 Simcoe Street, Peterborough, Ontario K9H 2H6
Locale:Peterborough, Selwyn
Service Area:Urban area
Service Type:Public Transit, Paratransit
Routes:11 Main Routes 2 Community Bus Routes2 Selwyn "The Link" Routes 1 GO Transit Route
Hubs:Peterborough Terminal, Lansdowne Place, Trent University, Fleming College, & Peterborough Regional Health Center
Fleet:67 buses
Fuel Type:Diesel
Operator:City of Peterborough
Website:Peterborough Transit Official Site

Selwyn "The Link" Official Website

Fare:$2.75 - Main & Community Bus Routes$3.50 - Trans Cab$8.00 - Selwyn "The Link" Routes

Peterborough Transit is the public transport operator for the City of Peterborough, Ontario, & Township of Selwyn, Ontario.

The majority of their system consists of ten main routes within the urban area of Peterborough. There are three community bus routes that serve businesses and seniors homes. There are two Selwyn "The Link" routes that connects the towns of Curve Lake, Lakefield, Ennismore, & Bridgenorth to Trent University. For those who are physically unable to use the regular transit bus there is a special Handi-Van paratransit service.

History

Transit began in Peterborough as a streetcar service with the Peterborough and Ashburnham Street Railway Company, which was established in 1893 and operated until 1898. This was followed by the Peterborough Radial Railway Company, which operated from 1902 until 1927. This ended the streetcar era in Peterborough.

Cooney and Joplin was briefly the only transit company in the city during 1927 after the Peterborough Radial Railway Company ceased operations. Later during 1927, Border Transit Limited started. It operated through until 1978 at which point the present day Peterborough Transit began operations and continues today.[1]

In June 2020, Peterborough transit route system change from a hub-style transit system to a grid-style transit system due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, there was 9 main routes (down from the original 12 routes) and 3 community bus routes (up from the original 1 route). In May 2021, a new Selwyn "The Link" bus system connecting the major Selwyn towns to Peterborough. In September 2021, Route 11 Water became the 10th route in the transit system. There is no Route 1 in the Peterborough transit system.

Starting on January 2, 2022, all kids 12 years and under will be able to ride the transit system for free as part of a pilot project. The pilot project is expected to run through 2022.

Routes

Peterborough Terminal
Style:GO Transit
Image Upright:1
Address:190 Simcoe St., Peterborough, ON
Coordinates:44.305°N -78.3217°W
Owned:City of Peterborough
Bus Operators: Peterborough Transit
GO Transit
Zone:30

There are 10 main routes, 3 community bus routes, 2 Selwyn "the link" bus routes and a paratransit service. GO Transit also operates 1 bus from Peterborough to Oshawa.

Routes

Routes 2 - 9 operates seven days a week, routes 10 & 12 operates weekday service only, and route 11 is currently suspended. All routes followed by a A or B are shorter, less to frequent branch routes (excluding 7A). Community bus routes 22 & 23 connects to major plazas, malls, grocery stores, retirement and long-term care homes, medical clinic, & hospital within the City of Peterborough.

No. Route DestinationsNotes
2Chemong NBTo: Rowberry Blvd @ Broadway BlvdSBTo: Lansdowne Place @ Borden AveVia: Traill College & Peterborough Terminal
2AChemongNBTo: Rowberry Blvd @ Broadway BlvdSBTo: Peterborough TerminalVia: Traill College
2BChemongNBTo: Peterborough TerminalSBTo: Lansdowne Place @ Borden Ave
3Park North NBTo: Trent U BataSBTo: Clonsilla Ave @ Summit Plaza
4Weller WBTo: Sherbrooke St @ Woodglade BlvdEBTo: Peterborough MuseumVia: Peterborough Regional Health Centre & Peterborough Terminal
4AWellerWBTo: Peterborough TerminalEBTo: Peterborough Museum
5The Parkway NBTo: Peterborough TerminalSBTo: Fleming CollegeVia: Shorelines Casino
6Sherbrooke WBTo: Fleming CollegeEBTo: Trent U BataVia: Peterborough Terminal
6BSherbrookeNBTo: Trent U BataSBTo: Peterborough Terminal
7Lansdowne (Winter)WBTo: Fleming CollegeEBTo: Trent U GzowskiVia: Rogers St / Maria St & Willowcreek Plaza
7ALansdowne (Summer)WBTo: Fleming CollegeEBTo: Trent U GzowskiVia: Hunter St E / Ashburnham Dr & Willowcreek Plaza
7BLansdowneWBTo: Fleming CollegeEBTo: Willowcreek Plaza
8Monaghan NBTo: Trent U BataSBTo: Fleming CollegeVia: Peterborough Regional Health Center & Shorelines Casino
9Parkhill WBTo: Fleming CollegeEBTo: Trent U Gzowski
9AParkhillWBTo: Parkhill Rd W @ Hedonics RdEBTo: Trent U Gzowski
10Technology Drive NBTo: Peterborough TerminalSBTo: Technology Dr @ O'Brien DrLimited Weekday Service Only
11Water NBTo: Trent U BataSBTo: Peterborough TerminalBypasses: Traill CollegeRoute Currently Suspended (Service Resumes September 3, 2024)
11AWaterNBTo: Trent U BataSBTo: Traill CollegeBypasses: Peterborough TerminalRoute Currently Suspended (Service Resumes September 3, 2024)
12OtonabeeNBTo: Peterborough TerminalSBTo: Otonabee Dr @ Milford GateWeekday Service Only
22Blue (Community)TerminusTo: Lansdowne Place @ Real Canadian SuperstoreMidTo: George St N @ Simcoe St
23Red (Community)TerminusTo: Walmart North Superstore MidTo: Hedonics Circle

Late Night Service

Late night service is currently suspended, will resume on September 3, 2024.

Late-night service runs until 3:00 AM Monday to Saturday, and 1:00 AM on Sundays (September to April only).

Destination!Notes
5AThe ParkwayNBFrom: Fleming CollegeTo: Peterborough TerminalVia: Crawford Dr @ Harper Rd (Park & Ride)Changes to Route 6C @ Peterborough Terminal
6SherbrookeWBFrom: Trent U BataTo: Fleming CollegeVia: Peterborough Terminal
Changes to Route 5A @ Fleming College
6CSherbrooke NBFrom: Peterborough TerminalTo: Trent U BataVia: Trent U Gzowski College
Changes to Route 6 @ Trent U Bata Library

Selwyn "The Link" Bus Routes

No.DestinationsNotes
31NBTo: Curve LakeSBTo: Trent U BataVia: Lakefield
32NBTo: Ennismore Community CentreSBTo: Trent U BataVia: Bridgenorth

Go Transit Routes

Destinations!Notes
88 / 88BNBTo: Trent U GzowskiSBTo: Durham College Oshawa GoVia: Peterborough Terminal Crawford Dr @ Harper Rd Park & Ride

Ptbo County Rd. 10 @ Hwy 115 Park & Ride

88CNBTo: Trent U GzowskiSBTo: Durham College Oshawa GoVia: Peterborough Terminal

Terminals

Fares

Listed below are the fares for Peterborough Transit. Kids 12 years or younger ride free.

!Peterborough Transit Fare Type:!Cost:
Single Ride (Cash or Pass) $3.00
Trans-Cab$3.75
Transfer (Valid for 90 Minutes)$0.00
Two Ride Pass$6.00
Day Pass$10.00
Ten Ride Pass$27.00
30 Day Adult Pass$72.00
30 Day Student (to Grade 12) Pass$66.00
30 Day Senior (65+) Pass$50.00
Semi-Annual Senior (65+) Pass (January - June)$165.00
Semi-Annual Senior (65+) Pass (July - December)$165.00
Annual Senior Pass$275.00
Selwyn "The Link" Fare Type:Cost:
Single Ride (Cash)$8.00
Two Ride Pass$15.00
Ten Ride Pass$50.00
30 Day Pass$150.00

Criticisms

Many Peterborough Transit riders have criticized buses for being repeatedly late. Since 2005, Peterborough Transit has been slowly implementing changes to improve bus schedules. In 2006, buses began running every 40 minutes, rather than every 30 minutes, since buses would often run every 35–45 minutes anyway. This way, buses could at least meet their schedules.

Peterborough Transit is also frequently criticized for not having buses run late enough. During weekdays, the last bus departs from the terminal at 10:40, even though many riders need buses until around 1:00 am. It was also criticized for not offering Sunday service, a problem that was fixed in 2006.

The mayor, Daryl Bennett, owner of Capitol Taxi, proposed changes that would result in the cancellation of Saturday service after 6:00 pm.[2] However, on January 31, 2011. Peterborough city council voted against these transit cuts because of the overwhelming number of complaints from residents, and because of the perceived conflict of interest for the mayor.

The buses being required to back out of the bays at the existing terminal eat up roughly 10 minutes before all buses can start their trips. This can cause buses to end up running behind schedule later on in the day, as the arrival/depart time at the terminal generally falls farther and farther behind the more trips that are made.

Attempts to implement a Community Bus route by merging the Trent East Bank and the Nicholls Park route failed, mainly due to overcrowding issues on the route (renamed to 'Trent Armour'). As a result, the East Bank and Nicholls Park route returned and the Trent Reid and Trent Armour were cancelled.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~wyatt/alltime/peterborough-on.html Transit History of Peterborough, Ontario
  2. http://www.peterborough.ca/Living/City_Services/Transportation/Transit/Bus_Routes___Schedules.htm Peterborough Transit, Bus Routes & Schedules