Part 2: PEC Transit Committee Pushes Forward on Long-Term Planning and Rural Access Concerns - 04/02/2024

Transit planning and funding

Julianne Sneps explained the history of County Transit, current ridership, and the funding deadline. She confirmed that a long-term strategy and new funding sources are needed. This affects locals because transit could either expand or shrink depending on what decisions are made in the next year.

© PEC Council (YouTube)

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Kelly McGillivray supported forming a task team and volunteered to serve on it. Shadi Haggag also volunteered and was welcomed due to his transit engineering background. The committee voted unanimously to recommend the task team to council. 

Picton bus stop safety

Vincent explained safety risks at the current United Church stop and proposed moving it closer to the Mary Street municipal parking lot. Phil Prinsen supported the change, noting it encourages park-and-ride use. This improves safety and makes transit more practical for people who drive into town.

Harbour area parking concerns

Phil Prinzen warned that removing parking near the harbour would be unpopular. Sam Grosso raised concerns about impacts on nearby businesses. The chair supported exploring parking relocation instead of removal. 

Vincent explained the need for multiple stops due to high population density. Phil Prinzen asked why stops were closer together here than elsewhere. Staff confirmed this area has the highest concentration of residents and workers. 

Bloomfield shelter alignment

Committee members agreed that moving the northbound stop across from the shelter made sense. 

Janice Maynard strongly advocated for Rossmore and the north end, saying residents cannot realistically rely on current connections. Sam Grosso reinforced the concern, especially for seniors in Ameliasburgh. Vincent committed to exploring options for the north. 

Final vote

Sam Grosso moved the motion to recommend the task team. Phil Dawson seconded it. The committee voted in favour. They also voted to receive the bus stop review for information. These votes move transit planning forward without locking in final designs yet.

What it means for residents

Photo: Prince Edward County (County Transit)

Transit planning and funding decisions could determine whether transit services expand or shrink in the coming years, directly affecting how residents get around the county. Task team creation ensures experienced members guide the growth and planning of transit, helping residents have a system that meets county-wide needs.

Improvements to Picton bus stop safety make transit safer and more practical for people driving into town, reducing risks at stops near blind corners or awkward driveways, while harbour area parking concerns discussions protect both transit users and local businesses from conflicts, balancing accessibility and community needs.

King Street access planning helps residents and workers rely on walking to reach transit stops rather than needing to drive, improving convenience and accessibility, and Bloomfield shelter alignment changes improve comfort, clarity, and safety for riders, especially in inclement weather, making the system easier to use.

Addressing northern county concerns highlights future planning for Rossmore and other northern areas, potentially improving transit access for rural residents, seniors, and those without cars.

Final votes move transit planning forward while keeping design options flexible, ensuring residents benefit from thoughtful, long-term improvements.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:19:18. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.