Peterborough Transit

[Marc]

And it seems like tomorrow is yesterday for Peterborough with cuts to transit on the agenda to make up a budget shortfall.

https://pub-peterborough.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=35590

 

No services after 8pm except for routes 5 & 6 (servicing Trent and Flemming), no community bus at all (no great loss - it was flawed from the get go), no Sunday or stat holiday service except for the 5 & 6 routes and reductions in frequency.

 

[G.A]

4 hours ago, Marc said:

And it seems like tomorrow is yesterday for Peterborough with cuts to transit on the agenda to make up a budget shortfall.

https://pub-peterborough.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=35590

 

No services after 8pm except for routes 5 & 6 (servicing Trent and Flemming), no community bus at all (no great loss - it was flawed from the get go), no Sunday or stat holiday service except for the 5 & 6 routes and reductions in frequency.

 

I'm sorry I don't really think they know how to properly run a Transit System. A lot of these cities are trying to make it for profit but realistically you can't. They need to start listening to the public.

[Marc]

1 hour ago, G.A said:

I'm sorry I don't really think they know how to properly run a Transit System. A lot of these cities are trying to make it for profit but realistically you can't. They need to start listening to the public.

Conbination of factors.  we had a transit manager who's main claim to fame was as a consultant who'd prepared a report on revamping the transit system and an operations manager who was ex-Metrolinx and managed to get up the noses of pretty much everyone.  He jumped ship sometime last year (was never anything in the local media) and she took over but was fired earlier this year.

Under their management we lost 40 drivers include many new hires.  Others had been on WSIB when they were fired so there's now some unfair dismisal cases costing the city even more money.

 

Then you had the former mayor (didn't run for re-election as she'd blown up a few bridges in her dealings with people) and the two councillors with responsibility for transit back in 2020 (one re-elected, one thrown out) who decided to revamp the system during the pandemic and completely revamp the routes with no public consultation (I suspect the departed managers played a big role though) and it's been downhill ever since.

 

A public consultation committee has been formed to give feed back to council but not sure it's met yet so these changes could come as  suprise to them.

[KawarthaTransiteer]

Back in September, the destination signs changed to show the route name, and the two termini of a route. IMHO, it's such a downgrade from the old signage because you can't tell the direction the bus is travelling at all, which is a problem for the downtown terminal and Willowcreek Plaza where there's going to be buses in both directions.

Picture of how it is now vs before:

Edited November 6, 2023 by KawarthaTransiteer
Clarity on pictures

[KawarthaTransiteer]

On 11/6/2023 at 12:19 PM, KawarthaTransiteer said:

Back in September, the destination signs changed to show the route name, and the two termini of a route.

Well, I took the bus to Lakefield yesterday and I guess they forgot to change the signs to their new format for the Link.

[KawarthaTransiteer]

On 11/6/2023 at 12:19 PM, KawarthaTransiteer said:

Back in September, the destination signs changed to show the route name, and the two termini of a route.

More weirdness that I've noticed: the signs for route 2 are inconsistent for the two directions. Northbound towards Broadway Boulevard just shows Broadway, but southbound to Lansdowne Place correctly shows both Broadway and Lansdowne Place (if I remember this correctly; it's very confusing without any meaningful distinction between the route directions).

Pictures taken earlier this evening:

Northbound

Southbound

[KawarthaTransiteer]

6515 was out yesterday with the old sign format on route 11. 4908 was out on route 10 with the pre-2020 format as well.

[KawarthaTransiteer]

Saw 2505 and what I presume is another bus (has green wrap) on the 401 in Pickering at about 10:30 this morning.

[KawarthaTransiteer]

Starting this past Tuesday the 2nd, service changes came in effect which included:

• Route 4 Weller gets 30 minute headways between 7 AM and 6 PM on weekdays
• Route 7 Lansdowne gets 30 minute headways midday between 9 AM and 2 PM also on weekdays
• Route 10 Technology Drive no longer deviates into the recycling facility on Pido Road, but gets a new stop at Technology and Pido (regardless doesn't matter since that area acts as a flag-down/on demand stop area anyways)
• Route 12 Otonabee is introduced sharing a lot of routing with the former 10 Collison, running every 40 minutes weekday midday between 8 AM and 5 PM connecting the downtown terminal and the Otonabee Drive area. It uses the bay west of the 4 EB one at the downtown terminal.

On Tuesday I was able to take the last trip of the day. There were a few people that got off downtown, but I was the only one that got on the bus and besides a woman and her child that were on very shortly I was the only person on the bus. However I'm sure it's very convenient for a direct trip downtown that doesn't rely on a transfer between the 2 and 7.

[KawarthaTransiteer]

On 11/9/2023 at 12:00 AM, KawarthaTransiteer said:

More weirdness that I've noticed: the signs for route 2 are inconsistent for the two directions

Route 4 as well. 4 EB shows both the Museum and Sherbrooke / Woodglade, but 4 WB just shows Sherbrooke / Woodglade.

Route 12 only shows the route name, however since it runs as a loop there can't really be a real end point (besides downtown).

[KawarthaTransiteer]

I was on 2204 this evening, one of the Novas from 20(!) years ago. Some things that I noticed:

• the mechanism for opening the front door wasn't working I presume since the operator had to open it manually
• 2204 has the light inside used to indicate the back door can be opened, which is interesting given the fact unlike other agencies the operators always open the back door and I don't believe it's on other buses
• the back door opening was way quieter than other buses that are extremely loud when opening
• stop request wires are pretty misshaped and at least one of the buttons still worked (impressive since buttons on some other buses don't work)

[Marc]

17 hours ago, KawarthaTransiteer said:

I was on 2204 this evening, one of the Novas from 20(!) years ago. Some things that I noticed:

• the mechanism for opening the front door wasn't working I presume since the operator had to open it manually
• 2204 has the light inside used to indicate the back door can be opened, which is interesting given the fact unlike other agencies the operators always open the back door and I don't believe it's on other buses
• the back door opening was way quieter than other buses that are extremely loud when opening
• stop request wires are pretty misshaped and at least one of the buttons still worked (impressive since buttons on some other buses don't work)

if not the oldest bus in the fleet, one of them so probably doesn't have that much time left (Novas older than 2204 when to the scrappers last year).

unless transit has to keep her in service for longer because they can't afford a replacement.

Couldn't quite find what to search for - are the rules for how long transit buses can be in service for? (know in other places that 20 is the limit).

[G.A]

1 hour ago, Marc said:

if not the oldest bus in the fleet, one of them so probably doesn't have that much time left (Novas older than 2204 when to the scrappers last year).

unless transit has to keep her in service for longer because they can't afford a replacement.

Couldn't quite find what to search for - are the rules for how long transit buses can be in service for? (know in other places that 20 is the limit).

Last known that all the 2004s are still active unless it's been noted that any have been retired.

[KawarthaTransiteer]

Went by the Public Works facility on Weber Avenue earlier this evening and 1804 and 2204 were there (alongside 2705).

My sightings of the other 04 buses are 2004 on the 28th last month, and 2304 yesterday.

[KawarthaTransiteer]

Saw this on 6716 this evening, interesting to say the least since Peterborough Transit isn't even integrated with two of the options well (Google Maps and the Transit app) in my opinion at least. They only send out service advisories and cancellations on Twitter and Facebook (so not visible on Google Maps and the Transit app at all), so I myself have had to tell people the bus was cancelled or otherwise not running at least 6 times.

[KawarthaTransiteer]

New service changes coming on Sunday, the 3rd:

Quote

Starting on Sunday, March 3, 2024 minor adjustments will be in place on some weekend timetables for Route 5 The Parkway and Route 6 Sherbrooke to improve connection times, as follows:

Route 5 The Parkway

• Northbound trips on Saturday and Sunday/Holiday schedules will leave Fleming College five minutes later between 7:15 a.m. and 11:15 p.m. (23:15) on Saturday, and 8:15 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. (19:15) on Sunday/Holidays.

Route 6 Sherbrooke

Three eastbound stops will be added to the evening Route 6C schedule on Sunday/Holidays starting at 8:10 p.m. (20:10):

• Departs Fleming College at 8:10 p.m. (20:10)
• Sherbrooke Street at Woodglade Boulevard at 8:18 p.m. (20:18)
• Sherbrooke Street at Medical Drive at 8:22 p.m. (20:22)

Bus Stop Balancing

We are continually assessing bus stops along some routes to provide a better balance for quicker service. This streamlined approach involves removing bus stops that are too close together. Removal of stops are as follows:

• Water Street at Murray Street
• Water Street at Dublin Street
• Water Street at Antrim Street
• George Street at Antrim Street
• George Street at London Street
• Armour Road NB at Dunlop Street
• Armour Road NB at Moir Street
• Armour Road SB at Vinette Street

These changes are pretty interesting. I know from personal experience it's always been very annoying and time consuming on both the 6 and 11 stopping at every stop on George and Water so I welcome removing some stops. The ones on Armour though I don't think are too much of a burden to keep serving them all but they were really close to each other regardless.

I'm not completely sure why there's changes to the scheduling of the 5 (maybe due to the 8 constantly being behind schedule arriving into Fleming?), but it will mean that both the 5 and 8 are scheduled to leave Fleming at the same time.

And finally the change to the 6C is just weird. If I'm reading it right, the change is that on Sundays the "6C" is going to be a 6A (Fleming-Terminal) that will interline with the 6C (Terminal-Trent Bata via Armour Rd and Trent Gzowski). I presume that this is since there's demand on the 6A corridor going towards downtown and also since whenever different vehicles are meant to run the 5 and 6C, connections aren't guaranteed. If the actual change is that it'll be extended to Fleming and runs express to downtown, that will be even more weird.

[KawarthaTransiteer]

On 2/29/2024 at 12:27 AM, KawarthaTransiteer said:

Saw this on 6716 this evening, interesting to say the least since Peterborough Transit isn't even integrated with two of the options well (Google Maps and the Transit app) in my opinion at least. They only send out service advisories and cancellations on Twitter and Facebook (so not visible on Google Maps and the Transit app at all), so I myself have had to tell people the bus was cancelled or otherwise not running at least 6 times.

 

[KawarthaTransiteer]

It seems like headsigns have changed again. I was out this morning and saw 7417 on the 5 going towards Fleming College with the new headsign of "5 PARKWAY SOUTH//TERMINAL TO CASINO TO FLEMING COLLEGE" (as seen below). Comparatively, the one from last September was "5 PARKWAY/TERMINAL CASINO COLLEGE", and prior to that it was "5 FLEMING COLLEGE/PARKWAY" (again, as seen below).

 

On 3/2/2024 at 12:28 AM, KawarthaTransiteer said:

And finally the change to the 6C is just weird. If I'm reading it right, the change is that on Sundays the "6C" is going to be a 6A (Fleming-Terminal) that will interline with the 6C (Terminal-Trent Bata via Armour Rd and Trent Gzowski). I presume that this is since there's demand on the 6A corridor going towards downtown and also since whenever different vehicles are meant to run the 5 and 6C, connections aren't guaranteed. If the actual change is that it'll be extended to Fleming and runs express to downtown, that will be even more weird.

As it turns out, this new variant of the 6C only has one trip, on Sundays leaving Fleming College at 8:10 PM. And is indeed a 6A (Fleming-Terminal) and 6C (Terminal-Trent Bata via Armour Rd and Trent Gzowski).

[KawarthaTransiteer]

This evening, the lights outdoors went out at the terminal, and I believe because of that briefly buses were ordered to not go into their bays as usual.

 

On 3/3/2024 at 10:08 PM, KawarthaTransiteer said:

It seems like headsigns have changed again. I was out this morning and saw 7417 on the 5 going towards Fleming College with the new headsign of "5 PARKWAY SOUTH//TERMINAL TO CASINO TO FLEMING COLLEGE" (as seen below). Comparatively, the one from last September was "5 PARKWAY/TERMINAL CASINO COLLEGE", and prior to that it was "5 FLEMING COLLEGE/PARKWAY" (again, as seen below).

Alongside front signs changing, the side and back ones have changed as well. They now show what direction they're going (i.e. the back sign will say 2 NB, and side will say ROUTE 4 WESTBOUND). The external announcement also changed, on the 6 today I heard something like "Route 6 to Trent U Bata" rather than the "Route 6 Sherbrooke to Trent Bata" that I'm more used to hearing. Some of the new signs I saw today are:

• 2 CHEMONG SOUTH//ROWBERRY BL TO TERMINAL TO LANSDOWNE PLACE
• 4 WELLER WEST//MUSEUM TO TERMINAL TO DENURE DRIVE
• 5 PARKWAY NORTH//FLEMING COLLEGE TO CASINO TO DOWNTOWN TERMINAL
• 6 SHERBROOKE EAST//FLEMING COLLEGE TO TERMINAL TO TRENT U BATA
• 6 SHERBROOKE WEST//TRENT U BATA TO TERMINAL TO FLEMING COLLEGE

The two buses I saw on the 11 this evening though didn't use this new format. (Only took a picture of 4408).

[Marc]

On 2/29/2024 at 12:27 AM, KawarthaTransiteer said:

Saw this on 6716 this evening, interesting to say the least since Peterborough Transit isn't even integrated with two of the options well (Google Maps and the Transit app) in my opinion at least. They only send out service advisories and cancellations on Twitter and Facebook (so not visible on Google Maps and the Transit app at all), so I myself have had to tell people the bus was cancelled or otherwise not running at least 6 times.

Husband of relative going to work was caught twice recently in one week when the bus was cancelled in the morning by the lack of notification and another time when the bus changed to a snow route.

Putting them up on facebook is braindead (which sums up transit management).  You have to remember to go specifically to the transit facebook page because you're likely to miss any posts on your feed because they use alogorithms over common sense i.e chronological order and something will appear one time but not the next.

Also the timing of notifications is major still a major problem.  If a driver doesn't show up their shift start at 6am you know the service can't going to be running at that point in time so don't wait until 7am to sent out the notifications.

 

There are suppose to be supervisors on duty so why aren't they sending out the notifications at the get go?  To busy drinking coffee and playing solitaire?

 

and in anyone is interested, the city has opening on the transit liason committee that runs until Dec 2026.

[KawarthaTransiteer]

On 3/15/2024 at 8:42 PM, Marc said:

Husband of relative going to work was caught twice recently in one week when the bus was cancelled in the morning by the lack of notification and another time when the bus changed to a snow route.

Putting them up on facebook is braindead (which sums up transit management).  You have to remember to go specifically to the transit facebook page because you're likely to miss any posts on your feed because they use alogorithms over common sense i.e chronological order and something will appear one time but not the next.

Also the timing of notifications is major still a major problem.  If a driver doesn't show up their shift start at 6am you know the service can't going to be running at that point in time so don't wait until 7am to sent out the notifications.

 

There are suppose to be supervisors on duty so why aren't they sending out the notifications at the get go?  To busy drinking coffee and playing solitaire?

 

and in anyone is interested, the city has opening on the transit liason committee that runs until Dec 2026.

Agreed. I'm not sure why they don't push out service updates to transit apps/websites like other transit agencies (such as GO Transit). Makes it very inconvenient.

[KawarthaTransiteer]

Apparently, buses are now on the summer schedule as of yesterday, with no late night service on the 5 and 6, plus with the 11 suspended. And pretty expected, they haven't updated the website, Google Maps or the Transit app to reflect the summer schedule. I expect a lot of people are being/will be left out to dry expecting either the 11 or the late night buses with this now inaccurate info still being up.

-

Also the 9 is starting to detour via Kawartha Heights Blvd due to construction on Brealey. Funnily enough, it's temporarily a partial reversal of the route changes that came last September. It does means that the route now has two rather significant detours, along with the detour via Reid, McDonnel, and George/Water around Parkhill:

[KawarthaTransiteer]

I spoke a little too early; they posted the full changes on Tuesday.

Quote

Peterborough Transit will implement seasonal changes to some of its routes for the spring and summer.

Route 4 Weller

To improve route timing, Route 4 Weller Eastbound will no longer travel into the hospital loop, starting Sunday, April 28. The stop on Weller Street at Sherwood Crescent has moved to Weller Street at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Walkway.

Route 5 The Parkway

• Late-night Northbound service is suspended on weekdays and weekends from April 21 until the beginning of September 2024.
• Northbound Route 5 finishes at 11:35 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 7:35 p.m. on Sunday and Holidays.

Route 6 Sherbrooke

• Late-night service has been suspended on weekdays and weekends from April 21 until the beginning of September 2024.
• The last trip on both eastbound and westbound routes departs at 11:10 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 7:10 p.m. on Sundays and Holidays.

Route 7 Lansdowne

• Route 7 Lansdowne will transition to its spring/summer route using the 7A routing via Ashburnham, the Lift Lock, and Hunter Street from April 28 through October 26, 2024. All stops on Rogers Street between Maria Street and Hunter Street will continue to be served by Route 4 trips.
• Route 7 Lansdowne rush hour 7B trip at 7:50 a.m. from Willowcreek Boulevard to Fleming College has been suspended from service starting on Sunday, April 28.
• Route 7 Lansdowne rush hour 7B trips between Willowcreek Boulevard and Fleming College have been suspended from service on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays starting on Sunday, April 28.

Route 11 Water

Route 11 and 11A Water serving Trent University is suspended as of April 21, until the beginning of September 2024.

Community Bus route changes

Effective Sunday, April 28, Route 22 Blue and Route 23 Red Community Bus will no longer travel on George Street past Simcoe Street.

• Route 22 Blue Community Bus will turn from George Street onto Simcoe Street and proceed to the bus terminal. From the bus terminal, the route will continue on Simcoe Street to Aylmer Street, turn left onto Aylmer Street to Charlotte Street, and turn right onto Charlotte Street to the regular route.
• Route 23 Red Community Bus will turn from George Street onto Simcoe Street and proceed to the bus terminal. From the bus terminal, the route will continue on Simcoe Street to Aylmer Street, turn left onto Aylmer Street to Lansdowne Street, to the regular route.

Detours

Peterborough Transit will make adjustments to routes for construction detours as they arise. The following routes have detours in place while construction projects are underway:

• Route 7A Lansdowne eastbound will detour from Rogers Street to Dufferin Street to Armour Road
• Route 9 Parkhill will detour from Parkhill Road via McDonnel Street and from Brealey Drive via Kawartha Heights Boulevard and Lansdowne Street West
• Westbound Route 23 Red Community Bus will detour via Romaine Street west to Park Street south to resume the regular route. Two temporary stops will be placed on the north side of Romaine Street: Romaine Street at Aylmer Street and Romaine Street at Park Street.

Most interstingly, it seems like route 4 will no longer be directly serving the hospital, and the community routes will start serving the downtown terminal.