Throughout the summer General Manager Tracy Milne has been working on the Transit Liaison Committee advocating on students behalf to address proposed cuts to Peterborough Transit service. These cuts were initially proposed to limit the degree of service Peterborough Transit is capable of providing. More specifically, there were proposed cuts to weekend and holiday services altogether which would detrimentally impact students' access to the downtown core.

Peterborough Transit has no released a new report (Report IPSTR23-004), in which the City is willing to offer further budget to Peterborough Transit to address areas that are underserviced, ensuring that the increase in ridership will be more fulsomely supported with bolstered service. The TCSA has written and sent the following letter to the Honourable Mayor Jeff Leal and the Peterborough City Councillors to voice the Association's support for the new report regarding changes to Peterborough Transit's budget allocation, and to further emphasize the need for Peterborough Transit's budget to not be cut. This is because it would have a critical impact on the overall service they can provide. Further, increasing the budget and hiring further staff members will better address the gaps in service witnessed last year.

Please see our letter below:

To the attention of the Honourable Mayor Jeff Leal and the Peterborough City Councilors;

The Trent Central Student Association would like to voice our support for the Report IPSTR23-004. The Association is in full support of the motion, as well as the report, in so far that it aligns amenably with the needs of our membership to access transportation across the city. Maintaining the Grid system offers further stability to the ridership, and enables a more efficient navigation of the city.

We endorse this report as it would help ensure that the student population’s accessibility requirements will be more fulsomely supported. Additionally, increasing the funding that Peterborough Transit receives will bolster the overall service provided, ultimately increasing ridership.

Increased overall staffing will enhance Peterborough Transit’s capacity to provide service to the greater community, which will ensure that areas that were underserviced last year will be addressed. As well as avoid a high-frequency of cancellations as seen during the previous year.

Thank you for your time and consideration, we are confident that the Council will act in the best interest of all of its constituents.

Sincerely,

Trent Central Student Association