County of Peterborough Provides 2024 Construction Update of James A. Gifford Causeway

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The County of Peterborough has updated the James A. Gifford Causeway construction plans.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

The 2023 James A. Gifford Causeway roadworks tender was substantially completed in November 2023. The lighting installation along the new multi-use path is anticipated to be completed by mid-winter this year. 

The design of the next phase of Causeway construction is being finalized and will include extensive rehabilitation of the Chemong Bridge. The construction tender for this work is expected to be issued for public bidding in February.

The scope of the 2024 contract will also include a road reconstruction component, extending from west of Chemong Bridge to the Kelly Boulevard/Garthorne Avenue intersection.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough County.

The scope of the 2024 construction contract will include:

  • Repairs to Chemong Bridge superstructure and substructure

  • Excavation and replacement of deteriorated concrete deck sections

  • Renewal of the asphalt surface on the bridge

  • Approx. 400 metres of road surface repairs east and west of bridge

  • Renewal of steel beam guiderail

  • New 1.8m concrete sidewalk on the south side of Chemong Bridge

  • Connection to new multi-use path and installation of pathway lighting

Construction is to commence in the spring with completion in November. Motorists are advised to plan accordingly and consider alternate routes to avoid traffic delays.

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Capitol Taxi and Call-A-Cab To Merge Operations

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After competing for over 60 years, the two local cab companies Capitol Taxi Ltd. and Call-A-Cab Ltd. are merging operations announced on Thursday morning.

Both cab companies have operated in Peterborough since the 1940s. Photo courtesy of Capital Taxi.

The driver and dispatch operations are being combined according to a press release. The dispatch centre is running out of the Capitol offices at 728 Rye St.

“At this time, in the interests of our customers, our employees and management we have decided to now join together the two taxi operations under the Capitol banner for better service and efficiency,” said Daryl Bennett, Capitol Taxi owner and former Peterborough mayor.

The phone lines remain the same (705 742-4242 and 705-745 2424) and are being answered as ‘Taxi Service.’

“The Donnellys, in exiting the daily taxi service, will continue their school van services and the public garage operations on Bensfort Rd.,” said Bennett.

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Peterborough Transit Making Service Adjustments For the Holidays Beginning Friday

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Peterborough Transit service adjustments are being made for all routes during the holiday period from Friday until Jan. 7.

File photo.

All Route 11 and 11A Water trips will be suspended from Friday until Jan. 7, with regular weekday service resuming on Jan. 8.

Late evening trips after 11:32 p.m. will be suspended from Friday to Jan. 7 on all routes.

On Sunday, all routes end early, with the last trip departing no later than 7:15 p.m. (7:33 p.m. on Route 3 Park).

There will be no service on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

On Dec. 26, all routes will be on a Holiday/Sunday service schedule, with the last trip departing no later than 7:15 p.m. (7:33 p.m. on Route 3 Park).

On Dec. 31, all routes end early with the last trip departing no later than 7:15 p.m. (7:33 p.m. on Route 3 Park). Extended New Year’s Eve service will not be offered this year.

The Customer Service desk at the Simcoe Street Terminal will have adjusted hours for the holiday period:

  • Sunday, December 24: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  • Monday, December 25: closed

  • Tuesday, December 26: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  • Wednesday, December 27 to Saturday, December 30: 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

  • Sunday, December 31: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  • Monday, January 1: closed

Regular hours resume at the Simcoe Street Bus Terminal on Jan. 2.

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City of Peterborough New Speed Limits and Community Safety Zones In School Areas

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As part of National Safe Driving Week, The City of Peterborough has launched “Drive Slow Ptbo” to lower speed limits in Community Safety Zones in school areas, announced at Edmison Heights Public School on Tuesday afternoon.

An example of signs and the speed Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Speed limits have been reduced to 40 kph on major roads fronting schools and 30 kph on minor roads fronting schools and local roads leading to a school driveway. Local roads with walkway access to school property will receive a 40-kilometers-per-hour speed limit. Fines are doubled for traffic violations within a Community Safety Zone according to the Peterborough Police Service.

New speed limit and Community Safety Zone signs are being installed following Highway Traffic Act regulations at all 30 elementary and secondary schools. Additionally, five school areas — one in each ward — are pilot sites for road safety treatments to determine their effectiveness in slowing vehicular traffic and identify any operational or maintenance challenges associated with the treatments.

“This is just the pilot project and I think you have to take all that information you get and try to get out the wrinkles and apply it across the City of Peterborough,” said Councillor Keith Riel.

The treatments include pavement markings, delineators and vertical centerline treatments and electronic driver feedback signs.

These initial pilot areas are: 

  • St. Patrick's Catholic Elementary School

  • Edmison Heights Public School

  • École Catholique Monseigneur-Jamot

  • St. Alphonsus Catholic Elementary School and Keith Wightman Public School

  • Queen Mary Public School 

“School area safety is a priority for Council. We want our children to be safe,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “Reducing the speed limit on the roads around our schools will create a safer environment for children and families walking or cycling to school. Community Safety Zones in school areas will add another layer of safety, in addition to the City’s effective Crossing Guard program and school bus safety laws.”

The school area safety project comes from key infrastructure policy initiatives established through the Transportation Master Plan approved by Council in March 2022. This project implements several measures recommended in the Safe School Zones section, including education, engineering and enforcement measures, to improve safety in school areas. 

City Council approved reduced speed limits and Community Safety Zones for all City elementary and secondary school areas in the City of Peterborough at its meeting on June 26.

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Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1320 Members Ratify New Agreement

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Peterborough Transit employees — represented by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1320 — voted 86.5 per cent in favour of ratifying a three-year agreement reached with the City of Peterborough on Friday.

File Photo.

“Given this fantastic news, Peterborough Transit, one of the most value-creating services for residents, will continue to operate normally as expected on Monday,” said Jasbir Raina, City CAO. “My sincere appreciation and congratulations to the ATU Local 1320 Executive Committee and members, as well as the City’s bargaining team, for their hard work, commitment and true sense of belonging for our community to make it possible. Our front-line service delivery workers are the true value-creating leaders and brand ambassadors for the City.”

City Council will hold a ratification vote as soon as possible according to a press release.

The parties had been negotiating a new agreement since May last year

ATU Local 1320 represents 103 full-time and roughly 20 part-time employees with the City of Peterborough.

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High Street Temporarily Closed For Traffic Calming Measures Construction

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High Street — between Sherbrooke Street and Frank Street — is closing to through traffic on Thursday and Friday for the installation of traffic calming infrastructure announced on Tuesday.

File Photo.

Local access will be maintained for residents within the affected area according to the City of Peterborough.

High Street was selected as one of the pilot areas to study traffic calming measures through the City’s Traffic Calming Policy development. It is being trialed as a one-way street with traffic permitted in the southbound direction between Sherbrooke Street and Frank Street. A protected pedestrian pathway is also being installed between Sherbrooke Street and Frank Street in the sections that do not have a sidewalk.

The policy is intended to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, as well as to reduce aggressive driving behaviour in local neighbourhoods to improve livability according to the City.

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Peterborough Transit Making Schedule Changes Beginning Sunday

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With the existing On Demand service ending Friday, Peterborough Transit is making changes to some route schedules starting on Sunday.

File Photo.

The adjustments affect some weekday and Saturday evening services along with adjusted departure times for the Technology Drive (Route 10) service according to The City of Peterborough. Route 7 Lansdowne will switch to its seasonal fall/winter route that uses the Maria Street bridge and Rogers Street instead of the Lift Lock tunnel and Hunter Street East.

Holiday service changes from On Demand to Sunday service hours for all routes. Statutory holidays will have no late evening service.

Route 2 Chemong

No changes to weekday or Sunday service.

Saturday night service will be increased to replace On Demand:

  • Southbound trips: service every 30 minutes from 7:45 p.m. to 11:15 p.m.  

  • Northbound trips: service every 30 minutes from 7:47 p.m. to 10:47 p.m.

Route 2 Chemong timetable preview

Route 3 Park

Weekday and Saturday hourly service added to evenings:

  • Southbound from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

  • Northbound from 8:33 p.m. to 10:33 p.m.

No change to Sunday service.

Route 3 Park timetable preview

Route 4 Weller

Weekday and Saturday hourly service added to evenings:

  • Southbound from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

  • Northbound from 7:32 p.m. to 11:32 p.m.

No change to Sunday service.

Route 4 Weller timetable preview

Route 5 The Parkway

Weekday and Saturday evening hourly service added:

  • Southbound from 7:45 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. Late night trips will operate on full route.

  • Northbound from 8:10 p.m. to 11:10 p.m. Late night trips will operate on full route.

Sunday

  • Late night trips will operate on full route, both northbound and southbound.

Route 5 The Parkway timetable preview

Route 6 Sherbrooke

Weekday and Saturday evening hourly service added:

  • Westbound from 7:10 p.m. to 11:10 p.m.

  • Eastbound from 7:10 p.m. to 11:10 p.m.

No change to Sunday service.

Route 6 Sherbrooke timetable preview

Route 7 Lansdowne

Route 7 Lansdowne will change to the fall/winter seasonal route using the Maria Street bridge and Rogers Street.

Weekday

  • Westbound: 7:10 p.m. 7B trip has been suspended.

  • Eastbound: 6:30 p.m. 7B trip has been suspended.

Saturday eastbound and westbound routes:

  • hourly service added from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Route 7 Lansdowne timetable preview

Route 8 Monaghan

Weekday and Saturday:

  • Hourly service added from 8:15 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. on both northbound and southbound routes.

No change to Sunday service.

Route 8 Monaghan timetable preview

Route 9 Parkhill

Weekday and Saturday:

  • Westbound: hourly service added from 8:15 p.m. to 11:15 p.m.

  • Eastbound: hourly service from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

No change to Sunday service.

Route 9 Parkhill timetable preview

Route 10 Technology

  • Morning service: the 6:45 a.m. departure will now leave the terminal at 6:40 a.m.

Afternoon trip times will shift from a 35-minute to a 40-minute round trip to improve time performance.

  • Departures from the Terminal will include trips at 2:15 p.m., 2:55 p.m., 3:35 p.m., and 4:15 p.m.

  • An additional evening trip has been added at 10:35 p.m. and will hold at O’Brien Drive until 11:10 p.m. for passengers.

Route 10 Technology timetable preview

statutory holidays

Three central City of Peterborough infrastructure projects continue into winter 2023/2024, resulting in the ongoing Peterborough Transit detours listed below:  

  • Lansdowne Street from Park to George: Out-of-service stops in both directions affecting Chemong Route 2, Lansdowne Route 7A and Technology Route 10.

  • Armour Road from Hunter Street to Clifton Street: Detour on Lansdowne Route 7A northbound trips via Rogers to Dufferin.

  • Parkhill Road to George Street: Detour on Parkhill Route 9 and Water Route 11A via McDonnel Street.

Customers with questions on the route schedules can contact Peterborough Transit directly by phone at 705-745-0525 or by email at transitoperations@peterborough.ca.

Service Updates

Customers are encouraged to check their schedules and stay up-to-date with adjustments to Transit routes, including weather delays, service interruptions and cancellations:

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James A. Gifford Causeway to Reopen at Noon After Last Friday's Emergency Closing For Repairs

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The James A. Gifford Causeway is reopening at noon after emergency repairs have been completed, announced on Friday morning.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough County.

Peterborough County announced last Friday that emergency repairs had to be done and had closed the Causeway for a week.

One lift of asphalt has been applied to the roadway however, intermittent lane closures are still occurring due to the remaining required work.

Lane closures and traffic flagging are in place until mid-November. Peterborough County says drivers should expect continued delays due to high traffic volumes.

“Peterborough County would like to thank the community for its understanding and patience during this emergency closure and the ongoing construction rehabilitation,” as stated in a press release.

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City Council to Reduce Speed Limit On Woodglade Boulevard; Installing Crosswalks Where Child Died In March

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City Council has endorsed reducing the speed limit from 50 to 40 kilometres per hour and implementing a Community Safety Zone on Woodglade Boulevard between Sherbrooke Street and Kawartha Heights Boulevard and installing crosswalks near the area where a child was struck by a vehicle and died in March.

File Photo.

A traffic operational review was conducted on the Council’s direction to assess the existing traffic conditions on Woodglade Boulevard between Kawartha Heights Boulevard and Sherbrooke Street according to a press release. The technical assessment included a review of vehicle speed and volume, collision history, intersection sightlines and pedestrian activity.

It showed that vehicle speed and volume are comparable to other high-capacity collector roadways in Peterborough. Three collisions have been reported in the past six years.

The Intersection sightline review recommends reducing the posted speed limit or provide advance warning signs for northbound drivers.

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Emergency Closing of James A. Gifford Causeway Closing at 7 p.m. On Friday For Emergency Repairs

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Peterborough County has issued an emergency closing of the James A. Gifford Causeway to all traffic beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday for urgent unforeseen repairs.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

This must be completed immediately to avoid a significant safety risk to the travelling public according to the County.

Crews are working extended hours to rectify the situation with expected reopening for next Friday.

Detours will be in place during the unexpected construction and repairs. 

“Peterborough County realizes that this unexpected situation is disruptive and apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause,” as stated in a press release.

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