The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

STATE Transport and Aviation Minister Hope Strachan believes the government is closer to implementing a unified bus system.

Speaking to parliamentarians yesterday, Ms Strachan said stakeholders have expressed a desire to see buses operating within a modern framework.

She said: “The unification of the bus system is something the ministry hopes to achieve in the near future.

“As we speak, an update of the 2008 report which outlined the plan for unification is being completed. It will reassess and re-evaluate components of the plan.

“Initial consultation of industry stakeholders suggests that, low and behold – and we were surprised – that initial consultation suggests widespread support for this major initiative.

“We recognise the need to improve and modernise the way of doing business to keep up with their counterparts world wide.

“It is our ministry’s intention to weed out those bus drivers and franchise owners who refuse to obey the rules and regulations in which the industry is governed. People want a safe, reliable, affordable public bus system and we are committed to delivering this.”

As it stands, there are around 500 individual owners in the public transportation system, which officials have said raises grave concerns about congestion, safety and efficiency.

The ministry is also in the process of putting together a pilot programme to remedy traffic congestion on Bay Street, Ms Strachan said.

“The pilot will introduce a ‘park and ride’ shuttle system which would allow jitney passengers to disembark at the lights of various park and ride shuttles shifting off of Bay Street.”

Jitneys and their haphazard operation have been a topic of discussion for years and Bahamians regularly complain about the traffic congestion, environmental damage, and safety risk they create.

More recently, Ms Strachan noted, there have been claims of pornography being shown on buses.