Infrastructure and Land Use: Transportation
Watershed residents rely on efficient transportation systems. Efficient public transit is not readily available within the rural areas of the watershed.
In the Severn Sound watershed:
- Roads, bridges and structures are the responsibility of the Province and local governments.
- Transportation facilities are addressed in the Simcoe County Transportation Master Plan, which aligns with the Provincial Growth Plan’s transportation policies. The Plan has a number of key recommendations which are intended to:
- reduce automobile use
- improve public ridership
- improve the safety of alternative transportation modes
- encourage the creation of a network of interconnected trails and walkways throughout Simcoe County
- encourage shared transit services among municipalities
- integrate existing trail systems Penetanguishene have lower commuter totals, suggesting that they are destinations for employment
- The workforce includes large numbers of commuters. In Simcoe County, almost half of the workforce commutes outside of Simcoe County. Orillia, Midland and Penetanguishene have lower commuter totals, suggesting that they are destinations for employment.
- Residents tend to drive to work or are driven as a passenger to work.
- Residents walk and bike to work most often in Georgian Bay, Midland and Orillia.
- Formal public transit is available only in Orillia and Midland.
- Public transit use for commuting to work is highest in Orillia.
- Community Link North Simcoe coordinates a volunteer based transportation service for North Simcoe residents who do not have access to their own mode of transportation.