It’s time to take a look at how we get around

​Transportation is a fundamental part of our community. It affects nearly every part of our lives. It’s how we shop, commute, visit friends and family, get to school, and get the supplies our businesses need to produce and sell their goods. It impacts safety in front of our homes, our ability to exercise outdoors, and climate change. It’s also an area where we spend many millions of dollars every year.
The City of Peterborough is currently undertaking a new Transportation Master Plan. This an opportunity to take a closer look at our priorities. Not just the opportunities for the municipality, but for ourselves. This isn’t about wishful thinking, but setting concrete goals and objectives that will guide City spending for years to come.
Peterborough is growing and some parts of our transportation network are feeling the strain. But solving congestion and wear-and-tear issues isn’t just about expanding our road networks.
At the core of the plan is the balance between different forms of transportation, including passenger cars, buses, bicycles and pedestrians. 
The vision statement reads:
"As the City grows, Peterborough’s transportation network will be enhanced to create a low emissions, responsive system where people of all ages and abilities can move safely, sustainably and 
efficiently, no matter how they choose to travel, today and in the future."
The objectives council set 

out for the Transportation Master Plan are:
Travel Choices
Continually improve travel choices for people and goods by providing an 
increased number of 
reliable, equitable, and 
accessible options that support the health and well-being of our growing community.
Community Building
Plan the transportation 
network to support the growth of vibrant 
communities in the region.
Safe, Livable 
Communities
Improve safety of 
transportation systems for all users. Ensure that 
investments in 
transportation systems 
enhance equity and 
accessibility by expanding access to jobs, services and 

amenities regardless of age, ability or travel choice.
Climate Mitigation & 
Natural Environment
Protect against negative impacts to the natural environment and reduce vehicle emissions to achieve Council’s Climate Change targets.
Economic & Financial
Enhance access to jobs, services and amenities to support a more resilient regional economy. Invest strategically in new capital projects that will provide long-term benefit to the City, while ensuring that existing assets are maintained and supported.
Shifting people from cars to alternative transportation 
can have some huge 
benefits for community health and safety, reducing
our impact on climate 

change, and less spending on expensive road networks. 
But this only works if the right investments are made that make people want to choose options other than their car. 
Transportation is a topic that brings out some strong opinions. We’ve seen the debates over new roads, bridges, bicycle lanes, street parking, busing, and street widening. The Transportation Master Plan will help guide this and future councils on how they make those 
investments.
The City of Peterborough is currently looking for your input through an online survey available until Oct. 8. This is an opportunity to take a look at how you 
interact with your 
community, how you would like to do so in the future, and provide your 
perspective on your 
transportation needs.

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