Peterborough Transit
Peterborough Transit is the public transport operator for the City of Peterborough, Ontario, & Township of Selwyn, Ontario.
| 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 Routes 2 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 |
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 edit
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.[1] 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.[2]
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 edit
Peterborough Terminal | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Location | 190 Simcoe St., Peterborough, ON |
| Coordinates | 44°18′18″N 78°19′18″W / 44.30500°N 78.32167°W |
| Owned by | City of Peterborough |
| Bus operators | Peterborough Transit GO Transit |
| Other information | |
| Station code | GO Transit: PETB |
| Fare 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 edit
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 | Destinations | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Chemong | NB | To: Rowberry Blvd @ Broadway Blvd | SB | To: Lansdowne Place @ Borden Ave | Via: Traill College & Peterborough Terminal |
| 2A | Chemong | NB | To: Rowberry Blvd @ Broadway Blvd | SB | To: Peterborough Terminal | Via: Traill College |
| 2B | Chemong | NB | To: Peterborough Terminal | SB | To: Lansdowne Place @ Borden Ave | |
| 3 | Park North | NB | To: Trent U Bata | SB | To: Clonsilla Ave @ Summit Plaza | |
| 4 | Weller | WB | To: Sherbrooke St @ Woodglade Blvd | EB | To: Peterborough Museum | Via: Peterborough Regional Health Centre & Peterborough Terminal |
| 4A | Weller | WB | To: Peterborough Terminal | EB | To: Peterborough Museum | |
| 5 | The Parkway | NB | To: Peterborough Terminal | SB | To: Fleming College | Via: Shorelines Casino |
| 6 | Sherbrooke | WB | To: Fleming College | EB | To: Trent U Bata | Via: Peterborough Terminal |
| 6B | Sherbrooke | NB | To: Trent U Bata | SB | To: Peterborough Terminal | |
| 7 | Lansdowne (Winter) | WB | To: Fleming College | EB | To: Trent U Gzowski | Via: Rogers St / Maria St & Willowcreek Plaza |
| 7A | Lansdowne (Summer) | WB | To: Fleming College | EB | To: Trent U Gzowski | Via: Hunter St E / Ashburnham Dr & Willowcreek Plaza |
| 7B | Lansdowne | WB | To: Fleming College | EB | To: Willowcreek Plaza | |
| 8 | Monaghan | NB | To: Trent U Bata | SB | To: Fleming College | Via: Peterborough Regional Health Center & Shorelines Casino |
| 9 | Parkhill | WB | To: Fleming College | EB | To: Trent U Gzowski | |
| 9A | Parkhill | WB | To: Parkhill Rd W @ Hedonics Rd | EB | To: Trent U Gzowski | |
| 10 | Technology Drive | NB | To: Peterborough Terminal | SB | To: Technology Dr @ O'Brien Dr | Limited Weekday Service Only |
| 11 | Water | NB | To: Trent U Bata | SB | To: Peterborough Terminal | Bypasses: Traill College Route Currently Suspended (Service Resumes September 3, 2024) |
| 11A | Water | NB | To: Trent U Bata | SB | To: Traill College | Bypasses: Peterborough Terminal Route Currently Suspended (Service Resumes September 3, 2024) |
| 12 | Otonabee | NB | To: Peterborough Terminal | SB | To: Otonabee Dr @ Milford Gate | Weekday Service Only |
| 22 | Blue (Community) | Terminus | To: Lansdowne Place @ Real Canadian Superstore | Mid | To: George St N @ Simcoe St | |
| 23 | Red (Community) | Terminus | To: Walmart North Superstore | Mid | To: Hedonics Circle | |
Late Night Service edit
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).
| No. | Name | Destination | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5A | The Parkway | NB | From: Fleming College | To: Peterborough Terminal | Via: Crawford Dr @ Harper Rd (Park & Ride) Changes to Route 6C @ Peterborough Terminal |
| 6 | Sherbrooke | WB | From: Trent U Bata | To: Fleming College | Via: Peterborough Terminal Changes to Route 5A @ Fleming College |
| 6C | Sherbrooke | NB | From: Peterborough Terminal | To: Trent U Bata | Via: Trent U Gzowski College Changes to Route 6 @ Trent U Bata Library |
Selwyn "The Link" Bus Routes edit
Operates in Selwyn Township, ON
| No. | Destinations | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | NB | To: Curve Lake | SB | To: Trent U Bata | Via: Lakefield |
| 32 | NB | To: Ennismore Community Centre | SB | To: Trent U Bata | Via: Bridgenorth |
Go Transit Routes edit
| No. | Destinations | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88 / 88B | NB | To: Trent U Gzowski | SB | To: Durham College Oshawa Go | Via: Peterborough Terminal Crawford Dr @ Harper Rd Park & Ride Ptbo County Rd. 10 @ Hwy 115 Park & Ride |
| 88C | NB | To: Trent U Gzowski | SB | To: Durham College Oshawa Go | Via: Peterborough Terminal |
Terminals edit
Fares edit
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 edit
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.[3] 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 edit
References edit
- ^ Elwood James (2016-11-05). "The Street Railway in Peterborough". Peterborough Examiner. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
Peterborough had a street railway from 1893 to 1897, and then from 1904 to 1928.
- ^ Transit History of Peterborough, Ontario
- ^ Peterborough Transit, Bus Routes & Schedules
External links edit
- Peterborough Transit
- Drawings and photos of Peterborough Transit buses
- Public Transit Operations Review
- Media related to Peterborough Transit at Wikimedia Commons