The Trent Central Student Association (TCSA), has sent a letter to Mayor Jeff Leal and the Peterborough City Council in response to the proposed transit service cuts outlined in the most recent transit report, IPSTR23-003. The discontinuation of community buses and Holiday service, as well as the limit on weekend service, would be detrimental and inadequate with the current contact in place between the TCSA and the City of Peterborough.
The TCSA is advising that the city reconsider the cuts to Peterborough Transit, and increase funding for this service so that Peterborough Transit can adequately staff drivers and effectively provide service to the Trent and Peterborough communities. Further financial support is necessary to accommodate for the increased usage and need for Peterborough Transit’s service.
We urge Trent students to take action against these changes by copying and pasting this letter we have drafted, and inserting your city councillor’s name. We have also attached City Councillor names and email address where you can send your letter.
Email template:
Dear City Councillor,
We, the students of Trent University, are writing to express our collective concern regarding the proposed changes to the Peterborough Transit system. We are disappointed that this report, IPSTR23-003, does not consider the impact that these changes could have on our livelihoods and environment.
We rely on transportation daily to and from school. Students drive Peterborough’s economy, we work jobs in the city, and we settle down as alumni. While students may cycle through their journey of university and leave Peterborough, the student body is a permanent population and will be for years to come. We deserve acknowledgement as legitimate citizens of Peterborough and access to transit as much as any other community member.
The proposed changes are concerning as it takes away the ability to access education and employment. Reducing transportation on the weekend will also harm student safety and access to amenities. To reduce Peterborough Transit’s service is to make the false assumption that cars are widely accessible to students.
A healthy public transportation system also supports our ecosystem and reduces traffic in Peterborough. Please consider how your decision will impact students and the greater Peterborough community. We sincerely ask that you base your changes on facts and the lived experience of the Peterborough community.
Respectfully,
[INSERT YOUR NAME]
Email your City Councillors:
Ward 1 Otonabee - Kevin Duguay: kduguay@peterborough.ca and Lesley Parnell: lparnell@peterborough.ca
Ward 2 Monaghan - Matt Crowley: mcrowley@peterborough.ca and Don Vassiliadis: dvassiliadis@peterborough.ca
Ward 3 Town - Alex Bierk: abierk@peterborough.ca and Joy Lachica: jlachica@peterborough.ca
Ward 4 Ashburnham - Gary Baldwin: gbaldwin@peterborough.ca and Keith Riel: kriel@peterborough.ca
Ward 5 Northcrest - Andrew Beamer: arbeamer@peterborough.ca and Dave Haacke: dhaacke@peterborough.ca