Community Care Peterborough is studying the feasibility of public transit service across Peterborough County and is seeking feedback from residents.
Whether you need to make regular or occasional trips, you can lend your voice to a study that will look at the viability of new travel options between the many towns, villages, landscapes, and communities in the county.
Working in collaboration with Dillon Consulting Limited and regional partners including Peterborough County, Community Care Peterborough launched the feasibility study with funding support from the Ontario government’s Rural Ontario Development program.
Through surveys and both in-person and virtual open houses, the study is seeking input from all county residents, including commuters, students, retirees, families, and anyone else who is looking for new ways to get around Peterborough County.
The project aims to improve mobility for resident access to employment, education, shopping, healthcare, and social services in the community.
“For many rural residents, the lack of reliable transportation has been a long-standing barrier to accessing employment opportunities,” says Rhonda Keenan, General Manager of Economic Development at Peterborough County.
“Employers across Peterborough County have consistently told us that transit challenges impact their ability to attract and retain workers. This pilot project is an important step toward addressing that gap by studying new, flexible options that help people get to work and, in turn, support our local economy. We see this as a meaningful move toward building more inclusive and accessible transportation solutions for our rural communities.”
The goal of the survey is to evaluate current travel behaviours and better understand major travel needs in order to develop a feasible and sustainable solution for public transit. The project will also include a thorough review of existing rural transportation options, such as The Link in Selwyn Township and transportation services offered by Community Care Peterborough.
To share their experiences, residents can fill out a 10-minute online survey available at commcareptbo.org/transitstudy until Friday, July 10. All questions are optional.
Paper copies of the survey are also available at all Community Care offices, township offices, and First Nation offices in Peterborough County. Completed forms can be returned to the pick-up location or mailed to Community Care Peterborough (185 Hunter Street East, Peterborough, ON, K9H 0H1) by Friday, July 10.
Community Care Peterborough will also be hosting an open house on Thursday (June 25) from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Douro Community Centre at 2893 Highway 28 in Douro-Dummer.
There, attendees can connect with the consultants, partners, and related organizations to learn what regional transit could look like in the future and how it could strengthen opportunities. Surveys will also be available during the open house.
Over the coming months, Community Care Peterborough will be rolling out more public engagement opportunities, including virtual open houses and consultations with specific stakeholders.
For more information and to complete the survey, visit commcareptbo.org/transitstudy. If you have questions or require accommodations to access the survey, email Catherine Pink at transit@commcareptbo.org.
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