City Council Approves Information Report On Peterborough Transit Rollout
/City council has approved an information report on the rollout of the Youth Transit Pass Program for 2025 and 2026 during their meeting on Monday night.
File Photo.
The Youth Transit Pass Program aims to increase ridership, improve access and education, and support long-term transit use among young residents of Peterborough. According to Council, although youth aged 13–18 currently represent a small share of total ridership, they hold significant potential to help shift travel behaviour, increase transit use, and build a culture of sustainable mobility within the community.
Key program components include:
complimentary transit access for youth aged 13-18 during evenings, weekends, and summer months;
annual registration with structured pass distribution and orientation;
education-focused program design to support independent, confident transit use; and
phased pilot implementation through 2025 and 2026, followed by an annual program delivery and evaluation.
The program model aligns with current transit operations and supports future growth by targeting off-peak periods for initial implementation. This approach allows Peterborough Transit to build capacity, manage resources effectively, and evaluate program impacts without overextending the system. Over time, the program will expand and adapt alongside service enhancements, allowing for data-driven adjustments and continuous community engagement.
Draft Implementation Timeline:
Fall 2025 - During this phase, stakeholder engagement (e.g., school boards, student transportation services, youth organizations, families, and Transit staff) will be prioritized to further develop program specifics and arrive at the final program model and delivery methods. Consultations will also take place with the transit pass provider to identify appropriate systems for registration and data tracking. Additionally, a comprehensive communications plan will be developed to support program awareness and rollout.
Winter 2025 - The focus will shift to developing the operational aspects of the program. This includes creating registration processes and forms, as well as orientation materials and scheduling procedures. Communications materials will also be prepared, and the evaluation plan will be finalized to ensure effective monitoring and assessment.
Spring 2026 - Final testing of processes and systems will take place to ensure everything is functioning as intended. Internal staff will receive training to support the successful delivery of the program. Promotional materials will be distributed, and registration and orientation will begin for youth aged 13 to 14 (Intermediate Students).
Summer/fall 2026 – Phased expansion of registration and orientation to youth aged 15 to 18 (Secondary Students) will be completed to fully roll out the program to youth aged 13-18 in Year One. Tracking and evaluation of the pilot year begins to assess program delivery and impact.
