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

Peterborough Transit
Founded1978 (Originally 1893)
Headquarters190 Simcoe Street, Peterborough, Ontario K9H 2H6
LocalePeterborough, Selwyn
Service areaUrban area
Service typePublic Transit, Paratransit
Routes11 Main Routes

2 Community Bus Routes 2 Selwyn "The Link" Routes

1 GO Transit Route
HubsPeterborough Terminal, Lansdowne Place, Trent University, Fleming College, & Peterborough Regional Health Center
Fleet67 buses
Fuel typeDiesel
OperatorCity of Peterborough
WebsitePeterborough 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

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A Streetcar on George Street.

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

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Peterborough Terminal
 
General information
Location190 Simcoe St., Peterborough, ON
Coordinates44°18′18″N 78°19′18″W / 44.30500°N 78.32167°W / 44.30500; -78.32167
Owned byCity of Peterborough
Bus operatorsPeterborough Transit
  GO Transit
Other information
Station codeGO Transit: PETB
Fare zone30

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

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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: Trent U Bata SB To: Lansdowne Place @ Borden Ave Via:

- Traill College

- Peterborough Terminal

2A Chemong NB To: Trent U Bata 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 (Eastbound Only)

- 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

- Adam Scott CVI

6B Sherbrooke NB To: Trent U Bata SB To: Peterborough Terminal Via:

- Adam Scott CVI

7 Lansdowne (Winter) WB To: Fleming College EB To: Trent U Gzowski Via:

- Holy Cross SS

- Willowcreek Plaza

- Rogers St / Maria St

- Thomas A Stewart SS

7A Lansdowne (Summer) WB To: Fleming College EB To: Trent U Gzowski Via:

- Holy Cross SS

- Willowcreek Plaza

- Hunter St E / Ashburnham Dr

- Thomas A Stewart SS

7B Lansdowne WB To: Fleming College EB To: Willowcreek Plaza Via:

- Holy Cross SS

8 Monaghan NB To: Trent U Bata SB To: Fleming College Via:

- St. Peter's SS

- Peterborough Regional Health Center

- Lansdowne Place

- Kenner CVI

9 Parkhill WB To: Fleming College EB To: Trent U Gzowski Via:

- Thomas A Stewart SS

- Crestwood SS

9A Parkhill WB To: Parkhill Rd W @ Hedonics Rd EB To: Trent U Gzowski Via:

- Thomas A Stewart SS

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
11A Water NB To: Trent U Bata SB To: Traill College Bypasses: Peterborough Terminal
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 Midpoint To: Peterborough Terminal
23 Red (Community) Terminus To: Walmart North Superstore Midpoint To: Hedonics Circle Serves: Peterborough Terminal

Late Night Service

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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

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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

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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

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Fares

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Transit History of Peterborough, Ontario
  3. ^ Peterborough Transit, Bus Routes & Schedules
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