KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Transport Daryl Vaz is promising shorter wait occasions for commuters as 63 new compressed pure fuel (CNG) buses formally arrived at Kingston Wharves on Thursday, marking a significant step within the Authorities’s efforts to overtake the general public transportation system.
Vaz, who took over the transport portfolio in 2023, revealed that on the time, JUTC passengers have been ready as much as two and a half hours for a bus. He mentioned decreasing this ready time turned certainly one of his key priorities.
“That is progress,” Vaz declared. “Every of those 70 buses — 63 now, with 7 specifically retrofitted for the disabled to reach in August — carries 80 passengers and does a mean of six journeys per day. That’s a further 33,600 passengers served every day.”
He famous that formal approval has been granted for a brand new CNG bus refuelling facility on the JUTC Spanish City Depot, geared toward supporting the rising fleet and boosting operational effectivity. The venture is scheduled for completion in August 2025.
The brand new buses are geared up with options corresponding to USB charging ports for passengers and are anticipated to broaden and enhance a number of key JUTC routes, with a “commuter-first” strategy. These embody:
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Route 3 – Christian Gardens to Downtown by way of Waterford
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Route 8 – Naggo Head to Downtown by way of Westchester
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Route 16 – Higher Portmore to Downtown by way of Crossroads
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Route 50A – Seaview Gardens to Downtown by way of Marcus Garvey Drive
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Route 75 – Ferry to Papine
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Route 22 – Spanish City to Downtown by way of Spanish City Street
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…and a number of other others.
Vaz mentioned his ministry has considerably decreased the “distress index” — the general public’s dissatisfaction with transit — by introducing enhancements that make every day commuting extra environment friendly and humane.
“This isn’t nearly buses,” he mentioned, “It’s about restoring dignity to how Jamaicans transfer.”
