Watch: Great Back To School Road Safety Tips From Peterborough Police's Traffic Sergeant

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It's that time of year again, as student and school bus safety becomes paramount.

Peterborough Police want you to have a safe and happy school year ahead, and that includes being extra diligent in school safety zones.

Traffic Sergeant Ryan Wilson

Peterborough Police Traffic Sergeant Ryan Wilson provides great back-to-school tips for motorists with you in this video he filmed with us.

Watch it (and share) on Facebook here…

Or Twitter here…

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Lock & Paddle Has A Neat New Twist This Year: Light Up The Night At Peterborough Lift Lock

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The 4th Annual “Lock & Paddle” event this Saturday, August 24th, has a new twist this year with its “Light Up the Night” theme. Hosted by Peterborough Lift Lock National Historic Site of Canada in co-operation with The Canadian Canoe Museum, it will be a colourful lighted paddlecraft parade taking place over multiple lockages.

This year, they are opening up the site to encourage a “festival feel” by welcoming local vendors and entertainment as they host hundreds of paddlers and spectators. On-site camping is also being offered for the first time ever at the Historic Site to the first 150 registrants. The format will change to make the event more inclusive, giving everyone the chance to lock-through. 

Photo courtesy Parks Canada

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

To participate in this year’s Lock & Paddle, paddlers are encouraged to register on-line in advanced of the event. (Last minute registration will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 1 p.m. on the day of the event.) Registrants will receive a glow-in-the-dark wristband and a vessel marker which will provide them access to the event.

Paddlers are also encouraged to decorate their vessels with glow sticks, lights, reflectors or anything that can light up the night (but no open flamses are allowed).

At 6 p.m., the lighted paddle parade will begin, where paddlecraft will pass by judges for a chance to win some great prizes. Following the paddle parade comes the lighted night-time lockage where they will lift paddlers almost 20 metres into the night sky in the world’s highest hydraulic Lift Lock.

To register, click here.

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An Awesome 15 Passenger Party Bike Called PedalBoro Has Come To Town

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Peterborough’s very first 15-passenger party bike, PedalBoro, will soon be launching in the city. This will be a great idea for office functions, family and friend parties, tourists, and more—and it’s environmentally friendly.

PedalBoro is a multi-passenger bike tour company that will provide an innovative, eco-friendly transportation alternative for exploring downtown Peterborough's vibrant food and beverage scene.

Photo courtesy PedalBoro

With the launch of PedalBoro, Peterborough will become the 5th city in Canada to host this new form of cycle tourism, a sector that is booming right now. 

Once launched, PedalBoro tours has the opportunity to be a powerful economic driver as part of the city’s high value cycle tourism industry; connecting residents and tourists alike to Peterborough’s culinary creators and beverage makers.

Photo courtesy PedalBoro

Sign up here to be the first to know about ride bookings, and add this to your summer bucket list.

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The Next Phase Of Via Rail’s High Frequency Rail Project Through Peterborough Is Moving Forward

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“This train has yet to leave the station, but this is the furthest we have ever come on the idea of a passenger train,” says MP Maryam Monsef of an announcement made on Tuesday (June 25th) that she says “marks a significant milestone moving forward.”

Monsef announced that the Government of Canada and Canada Infrastructure Bank are committing a total of $71.1 million in new funding to complete additional planning activities over the next two years to advance VIA Rail’s proposal for High Frequency Rail in the busy Quebec City-Toronto Corridor, which runs through Peterborough.

Historical photo of Via Rail train in 1981 at what is now Peterborough Chamber courtesy Peterborough Chamber

“This project would bring significant economic growth to our community and the affected regions along the corridor,” says Monsef. “It also requires a significant investment. That’s why we have taken each step forward in a measured, thoughtful way. We are not interested in creating buzz that leads to no results.”

“We began by working with Via Rail to determine their business case, which we have determined would be good for the middle class and those working hard to join it. The next step is making sure we move forward in the correct way. That requires meaningful indigenous consultations and environmental assessment.”

Historical photo of Via Rail station courtesy Peterborough Chamber

The new funding will be used to establish a Joint Project Team and fund work to preserve the option of interoperability with regional transit providers in Montreal and Toronto.

The Joint Project Team, between Canada Infrastructure Bank and VIA Rail, will be established using the $55 million in funding from Canada Infrastructure Bank. This Joint Project Team will coordinate the next steps required in developing this project, focusing on the following activities throughout 2019 to 2020:

· finalizing legal and regulatory work related to safety and environmental assessments;

· consulting with stakeholders and Indigenous communities;

· examining required land and track acquisition; and

· completing the technical, financial and commercial analysis required for a final investment decision on High Frequency Rail in the Corridor.

Photo from announcement of funding at Peterborough Chamber courtesy Maryam Monsef

The balance of the funding, $16.1 million, is for Transport Canada and VIA Rail to support VIA Rail’s contributions to the Joint Project Team. It will also fund technical work to ensure the interoperability and integration of High Frequency Rail with operating tracks used by local and regional transit providers in Montreal and Toronto.

Photo courtesy Maryam Monsef

"Today's announcement is a significant next step for the VIA Rail High Frequency Rail proposal,” says Stuart Harrison, CEO at Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce. “This is no longer about feasibility, it’s about the process to approval. There are a lot of people in Peterborough who have been working on this project, and we are very appreciative of the commitment from the Canadian Infrastructure Bank and Federal Government.”

"I am excited to see the VIA Rail Canada project moving forward,” adds Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien. “The project has been in the works for a long time and will be of great benefit to the region.”

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Flying Colours Corp. Breaks Ground For New 100,000 Square Foot Hangar At Peterborough Airport

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Global Aviation Services company Flying Colours Corp has broken ground as work starts on building its largest hangar to date at Peterborough Aiport. Industrial construction company Vicano Construction Ltd braved the cool weather to formally begin the fourth phase of expansion plans at the Peterborough, Canada-headquartered company this month. 

On completion in mid-2019, the new building will house a climate controlled, dedicated paint-shop, a spacious hangar large enough to hold up to A220-size aircraft, as well as offices, customer meeting rooms, interiors workshops and a board room. The investment of approximately $25 million will add a further 100,000 square feet to the Peterborough footprint.  

A rendering of the new hangar due to open in mid-2019

More than 100 team members are currently being recruited to bolster the increased demand as the search for maintenance, interiors and paint expertise leads the recruitment drive.

“Our business has grown significantly over the last twelve months and we were running out of space to accommodate all our clients’ requests,” says John Gillespie about the expansion. “Once the building is complete, we will be using it to provide additional capacity for completions, refurbishment and heavy maintenance work scopes on large jet airframes.”

To learn more about Flying Colours, click here.

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There Is Free Late Night Transit Service On New Year’s Eve Again This Year

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The City of Peterborough is partnering with Wolfe Lawyers for the fourth consecutive year to offer free late night transit service on New Year’s Eve. Last year, 2,476 riders used the free service.

Ride the bus is free of charge on all 12 regular routes between 7:20 p.m. on December 31st and 3:20 a.m. on January 1st. The last bus will leave Peterborough’s downtown terminal at 2:40 a.m. Route maps will be available here.

Handi-Van service will also run during the same hours. Handi-Van trip requests from eligible clients will be accepted until 12:20 a.m. and service will continue until 3:20 a.m. Bookings are accepted on a first come, first served basis. Riders wishing to travel during peak times are encouraged to reserve their trips in advance.

Details regarding the hours of operation will be posted on the “What’s New at Transit” page here and at the downtown Transit Terminal.

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Trent University Is First Canadian Post-Secondary Institution To Green Light Digital Transit Passes

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Kudos to Trent University, which has become the first Canadian post-secondary institution to green light digital transit passes.

The downloadable show ‘n go pass has eliminated thousands of plastic cards and yearly student lineups. The smart technology, ease and convenience, and the added benefits of a more sustainable option were key factors in Trent taking this initiative.

Photo courtesy Trent University

This pilot project program is a collaboration between Trent University, the Trent Central Student Association (TCSA) and the City of Peterborough.

"Our new digital transit pass is an effort to keep transit service in the palm of student’s hands,” says Brandon Remmelgas, president of the TCSA. “Our goal is to prevent students from having to carry around a different card for each service they need to access, and it has the added bonus of reducing the number of plastic cards being printed on an annual basis.”

Since rolling out in September, more than 4,000 passes have been downloaded from the digital ID card app available on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Created by tech company ID 123, the passes are renewable online each year.

Click here to learn how to download the pass.

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New Free Trolley Service Launching Downtown This Summer

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In a unique, innovative move, the Downtown Business Improvement Area has announced they are offering free trolley rides from downtown to Del Crary Park for Peterborough Musicfest concerts. The trolley will start June 30th and run through August 25th.

"We wanted to support Musicfest in a way that also helps our downtown," says DBIA Executive Director Terry Guiel. "The San Francisco-style trolley car really takes people back in time and that is the charm we wanted to capture."

Photo of trolley courtesy DBIA

The Trolley is owned and operated by Michael Bryant of Dromoland out of Little Britain. Michael will bring in a trolley load of visitors with him from Kawartha Lakes each concert night and take them home after. The trolley will be driven by Peterborough's own transit drivers from Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1320.

Photo of trolley courtesy DBIA

According to local historian Elwood Jones, the real trolleys used to run downtown between 1904 and 1928, with a much earlier version in the 1890s. The trolley that will be used for these events is a converted bus made to look like a trolley.

Photo of trolley courtesy DBIA

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SERVICE

-> All stops will occur on the right side of George Street.
-> Trolley pickups will begin at Confederation Square (across from City Hall) and continue at the intersections with Brock, Hunter, Simcoe, Charlotte and King from 6 pm to 10 pm.
-> The trolley will finish at Del Crary Park, where it will swing around and loop back to City Hall.
-> The trolley is accessible and can hold 30 people seated and 15 standing. (Priority use of the trolley will be given to those with mobility issues, seniors and expectant mothers or parents with young children.)
-> The DBIA expects the demand for this free trolley will exceed its capacity (especially right after the concerts end) and ask that everyone appreciate that they may not be able to give everyone a free ride.
-> The trolley is not intended as a substitute for Peterborough Transit.

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New Community Bus Service Launches In Peterborough March 4th

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Peterborough Transit has a brand new Community Bus service that begins Sunday, March 4th at 10 a.m. The Community Bus will be available to all residents and is designed to provide an additional transit option for people that normally use the Handi-Van or find using the regular bus challenging.
 
“I am excited about the roll out of the Community Bus service and the increased accessibility to transportation services that it will provide,” says Councillor Don Vassiliadis, Chair of Transportation. “I see the Community Bus being especially needed and appreciated by people that are finding the regular bus a bit difficult to use but don’t need the door to door service of the Handi-Van and want to retain more independence.”

Photo courtesy City of Peterborough

The Community Bus will follow a set route. It will serve Lansdowne Place, grocery stores, seniors’ homes, medical clinics and the hospital. 

The service will use a mini bus that has no stairs and seats 10 to 15 passengers, plus two spots for wheelchairs.

Photo courtesy City of Peterborough

The service will operate Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. Service will run on an hourly basis. Transit fares for the Community Bus are the same as for the regular transit service.
 
You can find more details about the Community Bus route and schedule at the Transit terminal and online here.

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Almost 2,500 Riders Used Peterborough Transit's Free Service On New Year's Eve

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For the 3rd consecutive year, Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers sponsored free transit services in Peterborough on New Year’s Eve.

This year, 2,476 riders used the service, down from about 3,000 last year, with bone-chilling weather playing a significant part in the decline this year.

Photo via @donvptbo

"This was the third year that I rode the buses on New Year’s Eve,” says Councillor Don Vassiliadis, Chair of Transportation. “The only difference between this year and the last two years was the weather. It was extremely cold. Riders were happy to have a warm and safe ride home."

Photo via @donvptbo

The George Street bus route saw the most riders, with 497 people accepting a free ride home on Peterborough Transit. On average, 206 riders per route took advantage of the free service.

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