Peterborough Council on Aging Discussion paper series #4, 2015 Transportation Transportation, including accessible and affordable public transport is a key factor influencing active aging. in particular, being able to move about the [community] determines social and civic participation and access to community and health services. (1) Transportation can take many forms; from driving, to riding transit, to walking, cycling, or scootering. Older adults and individuals with mobility challenges may require specific forms of transportation to maintain their mobility and access services and programs in the community. When planning for age-friendly communities it is important to consider the full range of transportation options to ensure that the needs of older adults and individuals with varying levels of ability are accommodated. Roads Roads are an important part of any community s driving infrastructure. Older drivers tend to rely on their car for transportation more than younger drivers; however, local data shows that the proportion of licensed drivers in the region declines over the age of 65 (2). The responsibility for the maintenance of roads depends on their classification. There are three Provincial Highways in the Peterborough region:» Highway 115 connects the region south to the 401 corridor» Highway 7 connects the region west to the City of Kawartha Lakes and east to Ottawa» Highway 28 connects the region north to Bancroft The County of Peterborough manages a network of 715 km of surfaced roads (3). Townships are responsible for the maintenance and repair of local roads, while the City of Peterborough manages the network of freeways, arterial, collector, and local roads within its limits (4). Ontario municipalities are required to maintain roads according to the provisions set out in the Municipal Act, 2001. These minimum maintenance standards for municipal highways govern maintenance, signage, traffic control, snow removal, and patrolling standards (5). Page 1 of 4
Transportation Public Transportation Public transit offers an alternative means of motorized transportation. The City of Peterborough operates a public transit system with 12 regular routes, 3 express bus routes, a trans-cab service (available in areas not serviced by regular bus routes), and a handi-van service (6). Buses operate seven days a week on a 40 minute schedule Monday to Friday 6:00 am until 11:20pm, Saturdays 6:40am until 11:20pm, and Sundays 8:00am until 7:20pm. Additional service is available on select routes. Monthly transit passes are available for seniors (age 65+) at a discounted rate. There is no discounted single ride or daily pass rate for older adults (6). Fast Fact: Transit ridership in the City of Peterborough declines with age (7). Regularly scheduled buses operate out of one central downtown bus terminal. A 2012 transit review study recommends that the City initiate planning for a new downtown bus terminal as a catalyst for downtown intensification (8). There are 574 individual bus stops in the City, 68 of which have covered shelters and benches, and a further 72 of which have benches only (9). The City of Peterborough aims to have 6% of all daily passenger trips made by public transit by the year 2031; a 2% increase over 2006 levels (2). Currently, local transit ridership declines with age. Peterborough Transit s Handi-van service is available for individuals with physical mobility challenges. Passengers must pre-register for the service and book their rides ahead of time. Rides are provided from accessible door to accessible door within the city at the same cost as a single fare (6). Transit Stops City of Peterborough, 2014 13% 12% 75% Stop only Benches only Shelters and Benches The 2012 transit review study proposes the phased implementation of two community bus routes in addition to the existing Handi-van service. This service would be designed primarily to serve seniors and individuals with mobility related disabilities (8). There is no local transit service within the County of Peterborough. Coach Canada and Greyhound Canada both provide limited service between select settlement areas in the County. Greyhound operates a route between Peterborough and Havelock once per day. Coach Canada offers bus service between Havelock, Page 2 of 4
Transportation Norwood, and Peterborough twice a day (2). In addition, Century Transportation has offered a commuter service between Peterborough and Lakefield, which is scheduled to be discontinued as of March, 2015 (10). Community Care Peterborough, through its Care Mobile service, also provides regional transportation services for seniors and adults with physical challenges. Door-to-door trips must be booked in advance and are offered on a fee for service basis (11). Inter-city transit options in the Peterborough region are offered by Greyhound Canada and Go Transit. Routes to Toronto run frequently; however, other destinations such as Ottawa, Lindsay, and areas north of Peterborough are less frequently serviced (9). Walking and Cycling Non-motorized transportation options include walking and cycling. Studies have shown that older adults tend to walk more than other segments of the population, with some relying on walking as their primary means of transportation (2). Sidewalk Provision by Type of Road City of Peterborough, 2012 Local Collector Arterial Total No Sidewalks 52% 28% 38% 44% Sidewalks on One Side 10% 21% 11% 12% Sidewalks on Both Sides 38% 51% 51% 44% For over 10 years the City of Peterborough has prioritized the provision of sidewalks to support walkable communities. In 2002, the City adopted a sidewalk policy that requires sidewalks to be provided on both sides of the street on new or reconstructed streets (2). In 2008, the City developed a sidewalk strategic plan that prioritizes areas of missing sidewalk for construction. The plan identified 65 km of sidewalk as a priority for construction by 2022 (2). Cycling Routes City of Peterborough, 2013 In the County of Peterborough sidewalks are provided in some, but not all, settled areas. Sidewalk availability varies by township, with some villages and towns [having] extensive sidewalks networks, while others have few (2). 72% 28% On Road Off Road Page 3 of 4
Transportation Some older adults also use cycling as a form of transportation and/or recreation. The City of Peterborough manages a network of 58 km of on and off road cycling routes. Over the next 20 years the City plans to invest in the construction of 131 km of new cycling routes (2). Did you know? Share the road signs have been placed along the 7 th line through to Hwy 29, near the Bridgenorth Trail in Selwyn Township (2). As of 2013, there were 47.5 km of off-road multiuse trails used for cycling, walking, trail running, and other recreational activities in the County of Peterborough. In 2012, the County s first on-road bike lane (the Heritage Line on County Road 134) was developed (2). The County s current transportation plan recommends the development of an active transportation plan for the County which would identify priorities for infrastructure and program development to support cycling and other forms of active transportation (e.g. walking) (2). References: (1) World Health Organization, 2007. Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide. (2) Active Transportation and Health Indicators Report, 2014. [Read More] (3) County of Peterborough, 2014. Transportation Master Plan. (4) City of Peterborough, 2012. Comprehensive Transportation Plan. (5) Province of Ontario, 2001. Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways. (6) City of Peterborough, 2014. Peterborough Transit. (7) Transportation Tomorrow Survey, 2011. (8) City of Peterborough, 2012. Public Transit Operations Review. (9) City of Peterborough Transportation Division, 2014. Personal Correspondence. (10) Peterborough Examiner, 2015. [Read More] (11) Community Care Peterborough, 2014. [Read More] Contact: Sarah Cullingham Age-friendly Coordinator scullingham@peterborough.ca www.peterboroughcouncilonaging.ca
Multi-Use Trails and Bicycle Paths in the County of Peterborough Trail Type Trail On-Road Bicycle Path dc 28 dc 7a 115 dc dc7-115 dc 7 0 3 6 12 18 24 Kilometers