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Peterborough Blogs
Update On Warsaw Road Swing Bridge Construction
/Construction is underway and progressing well at Parks Canada’s project to replace the Warsaw Road Swing Bridge, on Parkhill Road East (between Armour Road and Television Road). Engineering inspections in recent years have indicated that this bridge is nearing the end of its useful life.
Construction work at the site includes an in-kind replacement of the bridge structure, which will bring the bridge up to a full highway load rating. The project also includes the replacement of mechanical and electrical operating systems. The Contractor has substantially completed all concrete work in the contract, including the rehabilitation of the centre pier that supports the bridge span, and re-facing of the concrete abutments and wing wall.
Preparations are underway for the start of the delivery of components for the superstructure. Parks Canada has also approved additional concrete work on the face of the abutment that is not expected to impact the overall schedule, but will improve the overall lifespan of the asset.
Vehicular use of the bridge is on-schedule to be reinstated in the spring of this year, with landscaping work to follow.
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Uride To Launch Ridesharing Program In Peterborough On November 27th
/Uride, Canada’s Fastest Growing Ridesharing Company, is set to launch in Peterborough on Friday, November 27th, just in time for the holiday season. Uride began operations in Thunder Bay in March 2017, and now operates in eight cities across Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan—with a focus being to help fill the transportation void that exists amongst smaller communities across Canada, and to stop people from impaired driving.
In honour of the launch in Peterborough, Uride will be offering users in Peterborough up to 50% off all rides by inputting promo code URIDEPTBO when making a booking. This promotion will expire after Sunday, December 13th. Anyone interested in booking a Uride can download the Uride app from the App Store or Google Play Store, or visit the Uride website here.
“Peterborough deserves ridesharing, especially during the holiday’s when demand for private transportation is at its highest and wait times can be exceedingly long,” says Skye Volpi, Uride’s COO.
“Having access to safe and reliable private transportation is important for a lot of people, especially under the current circumstances with Covid-19 where people are concerned about using public transit services,” he adds. “We believe Uride can provide just that for Peterborough.”
Over the coming months, Uride will continue to work with city officials to consult on the implementation of ridesharing bylaw that promotes safety and competition amongst private transportation companies in Peterborough.
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Driver Shortages Causing Bus Disruptions In Local Schools, Close To 40 Bus Routes Cancelled
/According to a joint press release between PVNC, KPR and STSCO, Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario (STSCO) says families should have back up transportation plans as close to 40 bus routes have been cancelled for Monday, September 14th servicing local public and Catholic schools.
STSCO has been informed that, due to an area bus driver shortage, First Student bus company will have to cancel 38 school bus routes for both morning and afternoon runs on Monday, September 14th. The cancelled routes are listed on STSCO.ca by school.
Some local bus companies continue to have difficulty hiring and retaining drivers during the pandemic, an issue that many transportation consortia across Ontario are facing. As a result, STSCO warns that bus route cancellations and delays may be a daily occurrence in the weeks ahead.
Any disruptions will be posted on a daily basis on the STSCO website to give parents and guardians as much advance notice as possible.
Families in both Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board are asked to monitor STSCO.ca in the mornings and evenings, sign-up for automatic notifications and follow @stsco_ca on Twitter for information on cancellations and delays.
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Peterborough Transit Implements Google Transit
/Planning your trip on Peterborough Transit? Now, you can just Google it as they have joined Google’s Transit Partner Program with its routes and schedules integrated into Google Maps.
“This is a great step for Peterborough Transit and for the residents of Peterborough,” says Councillor Kemi Akapo, co-chair of City Council’s Transportation portfolio. “Thanks to all the Transit, technology services and mapping staff who worked tirelessly to make using transit more accessible.”
“I’m happy to hear that Peterborough Transit will now be able to offer its riders Google Transit,” adds Councillor Don Vassiliadis, Transportation portfolio co-chair. “This will help the City create a more convenient and reliable transit system.”
To use Google Maps to plan your route and times for Peterborough Transit services, click google.ca/maps, enter in your starting point and your destination, select the transit icon, then hit Enter.
Google Maps will show you the location of the nearest bus stop, what bus to catch to get to your destination, the route it will take, and any recommended transfers. To plan ahead of time for a later departure, simply change the Leave Now setting to either Depart At or Arrive By to customize your schedule.
“Our customers have been eagerly anticipating the launch of Google trip planner, and this is the first exciting step on our way to real time bus tracking,” says Laurie Stratton, Manager, Transit.
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Provincial Funding To Keep Municipal Transit Safe In City And County Of Peterborough
/Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha, has announced that the province is keeping transit riders and operators safe by providing the City and County of Peterborough with funding to cover additional cleaning costs of municipal transit systems due to COVID-19.
This funding is part of $15 million in provincial support for 110 municipalities across the province towards enhanced transit cleaning as the province gradually reopens. The City of Peterborough will receive $77,481 and the County of Peterborough will receive $29,964.
Photo by Peterborough Transit
Enhanced municipal transit cleaning funding builds upon the recommendations in the recently released safety guidance for public transit agencies and supports safe and reliable transit public transit that will get people moving, reduce congestion, and drive economic growth.
“Municipalities such as the City of Peterborough have had to make changes to how their transit systems operate to reduce crowding and ensure the safety of staff and passengers,” says MPP Dave Smith. “Working in partnership with municipalities is critical if we are to keep our communities clean, safe and healthy. This funding is another necessary step in that direction.”
“Peterborough Transit is adapting to continue to provide public transit service during the pandemic in a way that helps protect the health and wellbeing of customers, employees, and the community,” Mayor Therrien says. “Additional funding from the Province to assist with enhanced cleaning measures will support providing this key service for our community during this time."
“We are very pleased with the investment in Peterborough County through our Community Care specialized transit bus,” adds J. Murray Jones, Warden, Peterborough County. “The investment will support the enhanced cleaning needs in our Caremobiles to ensure rider safety.”
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Peterborough Transit Drivers Kept More Than 3,000 Customers Safe On Roads On New Year’s Eve
/Peterborough Transit drivers kept over 3,000 customers safe on the road this New Year’s Eve, as free transit was provided for a fifth consecutive year thanks to the sponsorship of Wolfe Lawyers.
"Peterborough Transit is a safe, reliable way to get to where you’re going and then back home, which is why it’s such a great service on New Year’s Eve,” says Councillor Don Vassiliadis, Co-chair of Transportation. “I would like to thank the transit drivers, staff and transit riders for helping to make the transit service so successful.”
File photo
“It’s exciting to see people out enjoying the city on New Year’s Eve, knowing that they don’t have to worry about arranging for a ride thanks to the free transit service,” adds Councillor Kemi Akapo, Co-chair of Transportation. “We appreciate the ongoing sponsorship from Wolfe Lawyers to make it possible.”
Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area and its member businesses partnered with the City this year to help promote the service, increasing awareness of the transit option for residents on New Year’s Eve.
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Free New Year's Eve Transit Is Being Offered For 5th Consecutive Year
/Free transit service on New Year’s Eve is being provided for a 5th consecutive year thanks to a partnership between Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers and the City of Peterborough.
Ride the bus 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 are available here.
Accessible service will also run during the same hours. Accessible trip requests 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.
Wolfe Lawyers is also sponsoring a free New Year's Eve Family Skate at the Evinrude Centre (911 Monaghan Rd.). Both ice pads will be open December 31st for a free family fun:
-> Freedom Mobile Pad from 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
-> Leon's Peterborough Pad from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
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New, Convenient Gateway To Kawarthas: 407 Extension Just Opened Off Highway 115
/There is a new convenient gateway to the Kawarthas, with the opening of the final stretch of Highway 407 and Highway 418.
Starting on Monday, December 9th, the final phase of this project will be open to drivers, connecting Highway 407 from the new Highway 418 to Highway 35/115. Highway 418 will provide another north/south connection from Highway 407 to Highway 401.
Photo from new 407 extension ribbon cutting courtesy Sandra Dueck, Peterborough Chamber of Commerce
The extension will add 14.2 kilometres to Highway 407, and the new Highway 418 (10 kilometres). This will add more options for commuters and families to travel across the region faster.
”It is an important connector of people and goods to and from Ontario’s largest economy,” says Sandra Dueck, Policy Analyst, The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce.
MAP courtesy 407 ETR
"The completion of the Highway 407 East project will connect communities and greatly improve our transportation network in this region," adds Vijay Thanigasalam, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation.
Photo from new 407 extension ribbon cutting courtesy Sandra Dueck, Peterborough Chamber of Commerce
