A New Look for a Familiar Stop: Public Art Installation Complete at Peterborough Transit Terminal

By Scott Arnold

A new piece of public art has transformed the Peterborough Transit Terminal, with the installation now complete and buses back in their regular bays.

The new public art installation at the Peterborough Transit Terminal is now complete. (photo by Scott arnold)

A new piece of public art is now part of the Peterborough Transit Terminal, bringing the City’s latest investment in public art and placemaking to a prominent downtown space.

The installation, which began in July, was incorporated into the exterior of the Simcoe Street terminal as part of the broader rehabilitation of the facility.

Artwork has been incorporated into the exterior of the Simcoe Street transit terminal.(photo by scott arnold)

The work was completed in sections along the terminal, requiring temporary closures of up to two bus bays at a time as crews moved through the site. Those temporary changes are now over, with all bays reopened and buses returned to their regular pickup and drop-off locations.

The project was supported by a $100,000 budget and funded through a combination of municipal investment and the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program as part of the terminal rehabilitation project.

The completed installation adds a new visual element to the downtown transit terminal. (photo by Scott arnold)

Beyond adding a visual element to the terminal, the public art project was intended to enhance the space through creative expression and community storytelling, bringing art into a place used by thousands of transit riders.

The City says the selected artist and final design will be formally recognized during a celebration later this month, providing the community with an opportunity to learn more about the artwork and the vision behind it.

For now, the completed installation marks another step in the ongoing renewal of a familiar downtown landmark, with the artwork now in place for transit riders and pedestrians to experience as they pass through the terminal.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Peterborough Transit Service Begins Fall Service Schedule Effective Sept. 6

Starting Sept. 6, Peterborough Transit is implementing its fall service schedule, which includes the return of seasonal late-night service, the reinstatement of school and post-secondary trips and the introduction of the new Route 14 O’Tech Connect.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

School and post-secondary service changes begins on Sept. 8, following the Labour Day holiday. 

Route 3 Park 

Weekday trips serving area schools will be reinstated. 

The following southbound trips from Trent University will return: 

• 7:25 a.m. 

• 8:25 a.m. 

The temporary 8 a.m. southbound departure will return to its regular 7:45 a.m. departure time. 

The following northbound trips from Clonsilla Avenue at Summit Plaza will also return to their regular times: 

• 7:05 a.m. 

• 8:01 a.m. 

• 9:03 a.m. 

Route 5 The Parkway 

Seasonal late-night northbound service will be reinstated on weekdays, weekends and holidays for the fall and winter academic period. 

Route 6 Sherbrooke 

Seasonal late-night eastbound and westbound service will be reinstated on weekdays, weekends and holidays for the fall and winter academic period. 

Route 7 Lansdowne 

Weekday morning and afternoon trips serving area schools will be reinstated. 

The following westbound trips will return: 

• 7:20 a.m. from Willowcreek Plaza 

• 7:45 a.m. from Walker Avenue at Bramble Road 

The following eastbound trips will also return: 

• 8:05 a.m. from Willowcreek Plaza 

• 2:40 p.m. from Fleming College 

Route 7A will continue using its seasonal routing through the Lift Lock Tunnel until the end of October. 

Route 9 Parkhill 

Weekday afternoon trips serving area schools will be reinstated. 

The following westbound trips from Trent University will return: 

• 3 p.m. 

• 4 p.m. 

The 2:30 p.m. eastbound trip from Parkhill Road at Medical Drive will also return. 

Route 11 and 11A Water 

Route 11 and Route 11A service will resume on Tuesday, September 8. 

Route 11 provides service between Trent University and the Peterborough Terminal. Route 11A provides service between Trent University and Traill College. 

Routes 11 and 11A operate while Trent University is in regular session. Service may be adjusted or temporarily suspended during Reading Weeks, examinations, winter closures and other academic breaks. 

New Route 14 O’Tech Connect 

Peterborough Transit is introducing Route 14 O’Tech Connect. This route replaces the former Route 10 Technology and Route 12 Otonabee, combining them into one continuous weekday route.  

The combined route provides a more direct connection between the Otonabee and Technology Drive areas, along with hourly service and later evening travel options.

Weekday service will operate from 5:25 a.m., with the final trip departing at 10:35 p.m.  

Route 14 will provide connections between the Peterborough Terminal, the Memorial Centre, River Road, Bensfort Road, Neal Drive, Technology Drive, Willowcreek Plaza, Middlefield Road, Otonabee Drive, Southpark Drive, Collison Avenue and the Lansdowne Street corridor.  

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Peterborough Transit Rolls Out New Youth Transit Pass Pilot Program

Peterborough Transit is launching its new Youth Transit Pass Pilot Program, providing free transit access to youth ages 13 to 18 after school, on weekends, on holidays and during school breaks. 

The Youth Transit Pass pilot program was approved by City Council as part of the City’s Transportation Master Plan. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The City of Peterborough wants the Youth Transit Pass Program to support youth mobility, improve access to opportunities, and encourage long-term transit use among young residents.

Early and affordable access to transit removes barriers to opportunity, supports youth mobility and participation, and improves access to employment, recreation, and community activities according to Keith Riel and Don Vassiliadis, Municipal Operations Co-Chairs Councillors

“The Youth Transit Pass Program gives young people the opportunity to build confidence and independence while becoming more familiar with public transit,” they said in a joint statement. “By providing free transit access during key times along with rider orientation, the program will help reduce cost and access barriers for youth across Peterborough.”

“Free transit for youth was a strong request from high school students, members of the Peterborough Youth Commission and Youth Council. City Council endorsed this initiative unanimously,” said Council appointee to the Youth Commission, Councillor Lesley Parnell. “Free transit for youth enables their independence, mobility to participate in after-school sports, jobs, recreational activities, plus they learn to be comfortable with public transit and are more likely to become lifelong transit users.”
 
Students participating in the Youth Transit Pass Program can ride Peterborough Transit free of charge: 

• Monday to Friday after school 

• Weekends 

• Statutory holidays  

• Summer vacation  

• Winter break  

• March Break  

Eligible youth can register online to receive a Peterborough Youth Transit Pass. 

Peterborough Transit’s regular bus routes operate seven days a week, and all buses are fully accessible.

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Peterborough Transit Service Updates For June 29

Peterborough Transit is implementing service adjustments on some routes beginning on June 29.

File Photo.

Route 3 Park 

The following weekday trips will be temporarily suspended until Sept. 8, when schools resume: 

• Southbound trips departing Trent University at 7:25 a.m. and 8:25 a.m.  

• The 7:45 a.m. southbound trip will move to 8 a.m. to maintain the hourly schedule.  

• Northbound trips departing Clonsilla at Summit Plaza at 7:05 a.m., 8:01 a.m., and 9:03 a.m.   

Route 3 Park will continue to operate on an hourly basis. 

Route 6 Sherbrooke  

One early morning trip will be permanently removed from service. The trip departing Peterborough Terminal at 5:57 a.m. and arriving at Trent University at 6:15 a.m. will be removed. 

Riders can use the trip departing Peterborough Terminal at 5:51 a.m., which follows the same route and departs six minutes earlier. 

Route 7 Lansdowne 

The following weekday trips will be temporarily suspended until Sept. 8, when schools resume: 

• Westbound trips departing Willowcreek Plaza at 7:20 a.m. and Walker Avenue at Bramble Road at 7:45 a.m.  

• Eastbound trips departing Willowcreek Plaza at 8:05 a.m. and Fleming College at 2:40 p.m.   

Route 7 Lansdowne will continue to operate every 30 minutes. 

Route 9 Parkhill 

The following weekday trips will be temporarily suspended until Sept. 8, when schools resume: 

• Westbound trips departing Trent University at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.  

• Eastbound trip departing Parkhill Road at Medical Drive at 2:30 p.m.  

Route 33 Bridgenorth 

Peterborough Transit is making minor schedule adjustments to Route 33 Bridgenorth following a review of the new route. 

Effective June 29, the following changes will be in place: 

• The first morning trip, currently starting at 7:45 a.m., will now begin on Carnegie Avenue at Terraview Heights. The bus will travel from Carnegie Avenue, turn right onto Woodland Drive, and continue to Trent University – Bata Library. This trip previously started at Woodland Drive at Carnegie Avenue.  

• The northbound trips departing at 8 a.m. and 6:40 p.m. will have a reduced scheduled travel time, from 45 minutes to 40 minutes.  

• The southbound trips departing at 8:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. will have a reduced scheduled travel time, from 45 minutes to 40 minutes.  

• The southbound trip from Bridgenorth Library will now depart at 8:45 a.m. instead of 8:50 a.m.  

Passengers are encouraged to check the updated schedule before travelling.

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Residents Asked to Vote For New Public Art at the Peterborough Transit Terminal

A new public art installation is coming to the Peterborough Transit Terminal at 190 Simcoe St. and residents are invited to help select the final design.   

File Photo.

The installation includes vinyl murals that will be placed on the downtown terminal’s columns and exterior. The artwork will enhance the terminal's visual character while improving wayfinding, highlighting entrances and pathways, and enhancing accessibility and safety. 

The City of Peterborough’s Public Art Policy have narrowed their selections to three artist teams for the project:

• BAU & ĆOS Studio (Andres Ulises Bautista & Novka Ćosović)  

• Casandra Lee, Joshua Morley and Sahira Said Jiddawy  

• Jerry Rugg (birdO) 

BAU AND ĆOS Studio is a Greater Toronto Area-based art and architecture firm founded by Andres Ulises Bautista and Novka Ćosović. As a team of two with different backgrounds from distant parts of the world, they draw on their extensive travels and diverse cultural experiences to create contextual public artworks. Their work is very versatile. The team has been commissioned to design projects for the City of Mississauga, the City of Burlington, Nuit Blanche and Pride Week.

Joshua Morley, Sahira Said Jiddawy and Casandra Lee bring complementary strengths in public art, design, and community engagement. Joshua has led large-scale murals such as The Hug, a 600 ft² mural in downtown Peterborough, and Maamawi, a vinyl installation for a community centre in Sault Ste. Marie. Sahira creates cohesive visual systems across digital and print, with work for organizations such as Community Fridge Canada and Absynthe Magazine. Casandra creates both digital and traditional public artworks, including installations for Renaissance on Hunter and Erring at King George. 

Jerry Rugg, aka birdO, is a multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto. While his surreal geometric animals can be found on canvas, in digital print, and in installation, birdO is primarily known for his large-scale mural work on walls and buildings around the world. Jerry’s longstanding passion for the arts, his storied experience in film, and the skills acquired as an award-winning graphic designer have all contributed to his approach, which focuses on an acute awareness of the surface and on studious preparation regarding local culture and surroundings. 

Each team has prepared a video presentation outlining their concept for the Transit Terminal.   

Residents can review the proposed concepts and choose the design that they feel best reflects the city’s identity, creativity and sense of place at connectptbo.ca/simcoetransitart. 

Voting is open until 5 p.m. on May 25.

This public vote will count as one vote in the overall decision. The Public Art Jury will evaluate each project alongside community input, and the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee will endorse the final selection.  

The winning design will be installed at the Peterborough Transit Terminal in early September. 

This project is funded through a combination of municipal investment and support from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), as part of the broader Simcoe Street Transit Terminal rehabilitation project.

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Ontario Government Invests Over $1.7 Million to Support Public Transit In City and County of Peterborough

Through the 2025-26 Gas Tax program, the Ontario Government has invested $1,773,769 for the City of Peterborough and the County to better support public transit, announced at the Peterborough Transit Garage on Friday afternoon.

Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP (left); Sherry Senis, Selwyn Mayor (middle) and Jeff Leal, Peterborough mayor (right) at the Peterborough Transit Garage on Townsend Road in Peterborough. The Ontario Government is investing nearly $380 million through the 2025-26 Gas Tax program to support public transit in 107 municipalities. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The City of Peterborough is receiving $1,732,762, while Peterborough County is getting $41,007. Under the ‘Dedicated Funding for Public Transportation Act’ in 2013, two cents per litre of the Gas Tax helped fund public transit, according to Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP.

“By providing these essential Gas Tax funds, we are empowering the City and County of Peterborough to enhance their transit networks, drive ridership and support the long-term growth of our region,” he explained. “This investment ensures that as our community expands, our residents have the reliable, accessible and efficient transportation they need to connect with jobs, local services and one another.”

The funding is to help public transit initiatives such as expanding service hours, increasing routes, purchasing new vehicles and improving accessibility while increasing transit ridership. While the funds are for the operational and capital side of Peterborough Transit, Mayor Jeff Leal said there are several ventures to seek as transportation evolves in the City.

“There are new technologies and vessels out there that save fuel and we want to be on the forefront of that,” he said.

Leal also mentioned that the $1.7 million provides the City with the possibility to extend its public transit reach into the County.

“It gives us the opportunities; that we have the link with Selwyn and we do get inquiries from Havelock, Norwood and Peterborough Regional Airport to extend that transit reach,” he explained. “It allows us to look at other transit options in actually servicing communities beyond the borders of the City of Peterborough. We do want to look at this area as a region and what we can do to have the City of Peterborough be that transit hub to help our fellow citizens of Peterborough County.”

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Youth Transit Pass Pilot Program to Allow Free Transportation for Students

A Youth Transit Pass Program approved by Council in September will include a phased rollout to youth ages 13 to 18 years old in its pilot year.

file photo.

Grade 7 and 8 students will be able to apply for a pass in April and high school students in September.

Students will be able to ride the bus for free:

• Monday to Friday after 4 p.m.

• Weekends

• Statutory holidays

• Summer vacation

• Winter Break

• March Break

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Peterborough Transit Service Changes Occurring April 26

Peterborough Transit will implement seasonal and service changes to some routes beginning April 26. 

File Photo.

Late-night service 

Late-night service on Route 5 Parkway and Route 6 Sherbrooke will be suspended on weekdays, weekends and holidays from Sunday, April 26 to Sunday, September 6, 2026. 

Route 5 Parkway 

Northbound Route 5 service will end at 11:35 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and at 7:40 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.  

Route 6 Sherbrooke 

Eastbound Route 6 service will end at 11:50 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and at 7:55 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.  

Westbound Route 6 service will end at 11:50 p.m. with two additional half-trips ending at the Terminal at 12:12 a.m. Monday to Saturday, and at 7:55 p.m. on Sunday and holidays, with two additional half-trips ending at the Terminal at 8:17 p.m.

Route 7 Lansdowne 

Route 7 Lansdowne will transition to its spring/summer routing as Route 7A, travelling via Hunter Street, the Lift Lock Tunnel and Ashburnham Drive between Rogers Street and Maria Street from Sunday, April 26, through Saturday, October 31, 2026.  

Bus stops returning to service:   

• Hunter Street at Lift Locks  

• Ashburnham Drive at Lift Locks  

• Ashburnham Drive at Maniece Avenue  

The following stops will not be served during this period:   

• Southbound Rogers Street at Sophia Street  

• Eastbound Maria Street at Armour Road

The northbound stop on Rogers Street at Sophia Street will continue to be served by Route 4.   

Route 11/11A Water 

Route 11 and Route 11A Water service to Trent University will be suspended from Monday, April 27 until the start of service on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.   

Selwyn “The Link” service changes 

Beginning Sunday, April 26, 2026, changes will be made to The Link service in Selwyn Township. 

• Route 32 Ennismore will no longer operate.  

• New Route 33 Bridgenorth will replace Route 32 and will travel to the Bridgenorth Library via the Lakefield loop.  

• Updated timetables will take effect for Route 31 Curve Lake and Route 33 Bridgenorth.  

• Both routes that leave Trent University will  travel via Nassau Mills Road, Water Street, Carnegie Avenue and Woodland Drive.  

• New stops will be added on Carnegie Avenue at Terraview Heights and, for Route 33, on Eighth Line at Centre Line.

Detours 

Peterborough Transit will adjust routes for construction detours as needed. The following detour is currently in place while construction work is underway: 

• Route 7 Lansdowne and Route 9 Parkhill: During the Trent East Bank construction period, Routes 7 and 9 will detour by turning right onto Pioneer Road and then left onto East Bank Drive to Gzowski Way.  

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Peterborough Transit's Route 3 Park Gets Updated Schedule Starting Sunday

Peterborough Transit will update scheduled running times on Route 3 Park to improve service reliability, starting Sunday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Customers may notice minor changes to departure and arrival times. The bus route and the bus stop locations remain the same.  

Route 3 Park operates through the residential areas immediately north and west of downtown. Operating between Trent University West Bank and Summit Plaza on Lansdowne Street, the route primarily travels on Royal Drive, Barnardo Avenue, Wolsely Street, Park Street and Chamberlain Street.

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Route 4 Bus to Follow Temporary Detour For Weekday Afternoon Trips

Route 4 Weller will follow a temporary detour for select weekday afternoon trips in East City from Monday through June 26.

File Photo.

This change is necessary due to winter clearance challenges caused by snowbanks, on-street parking, and congestion during Kaawaate East City Public School dismissal times in the Museum Drive and Hunter Street area.

The detour will apply to the following afternoon trips:

• 2:53 p.m. departure from the Terminal (Monday to Friday)

• 3:23 p.m. departure from the Terminal (Monday to Friday)

Bus stops not served on these two trips:

• Hunter Street at Times Square (eastbound and westbound)

• Museum Drive

Alternative boarding locations:

• Westbound trips: Rogers Street at Hunter Street

• Eastbound trips: Hunter Street at Mark Street

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