Further integration approved
Given the challenges faced by the Transport Board as a result of its ageing fleet, Cabinet has agreed to expand the Transport Authority Service Integration (TASI) Project which combines the services of the Board and operators of public service vehicles (PSVs) on some routes.
That’s the word from Minister of Transport and Works, Michael Lashley, who said that the decision was made last week to alleviate the problems being experienced at the Transport Board. He made the comments while making his contribution to the debate on the Appropriation Bill in the Lower House yesterday morning. He explained that the project which came into existence in 2014 was introduced on two routes – Sturges and Edey Village and the aim was to see how best to integrate the PSV as part of the public transport policy to meet the needs of the commuting public. Coming out of that TASI Project, he said, there has been an improvement in service delivery.
Lashley said the PSV associations have been very co-operative with his ministry and have expressed a willingness to come forward and assist with the shortage being experienced. His comments came as he said that their assistance would be quite useful in getting school children to and from school on a daily basis and while they are willing, there is concern about violent behaviour being exhibited among some children.
He indicated that of the 250 buses in the Transport Board fleet, 77 are 21 years old, 101 are 18 years old, 29 are 14 years old and 65 are 12 years old. The last buses were purchased, he stated, was 2006 and the fleet he noted has been suffering many breakdowns.
“Having the integrated project would impact positively on the Transport Board in terms of its expenses, because what it would allow the Transport Board to do is concentrate solely on particular routes or concentrate on moving the school children and then at peak hours when there is a challenge, that we integrate the private sector into moving the passengers at peak hours because Mr. Speaker Sir, there is no legal challenge for a private sector operator to operate from a terminal,” he said.
Lashley said with the expansion of the integration project there will have to be greater use of technology and he said the Ministry expects that there will be full co-operation from all of the stakeholders. He said the intention is to speak to the trade union representatives to ensure there is full buy-in.
“There is also additional space in the area outside of the terminal that Cabinet has agreed to allow private operators to come within close vicinity to Fairchild Street the terminal because of the fear of walking over to River Terminal and the risks. So I’ve been reliably informed that the technical persons from the Ministry, that they were on the job yesterday seeking to get that area rectified, putting the necessary infrastructure in place,” he said.
Lashley indicated that such work is expected to take two to three weeks to complete. His remarks came as he also revealed that United Commercial Autoworks Limited (UCAL) has expressed an interest in purchasing buses to assist in transporting Barbadians, including school children. Lashley appears to be viewing UCAL’s interest favourably, noting that UCAL is capable of repairing their own buses and acquiring their own parts. He said that proposal is worth looking at, as the State cannot do the job of public transport alone.
(JRT)