Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the introduction of a devoted faculty bus system within the public transportation sector will guarantee equitable entry, improved attendance, and enhanced security whereas easing the monetary burden on households.
“I’m comfortable that we’re lastly at a degree the place we will herald buses which are devoted to public transportation for college kids. When that is absolutely rolled out, Jamaica can have a complete faculty bus system,” the Prime Minister stated.
Dr. Holness was addressing journalists on Monday (April 7) on the Workplace of the Prime Minister (OPM), following a tour of one of many retrofitted items that will probably be utilised within the faculty bus system.
The Prime Minister famous that the buses will probably be outfitted with cameras and monitoring capabilities to facilitate stay location updates by way of an app.
“It is going to be a correct and full faculty bus system run by the Authorities of Jamaica that every one Jamaicans could be happy with,” Dr. Holness famous.
“Our administration, having secured financial stability and monetary certainty is now rising the tempo at which we ship these advantages to ease the ache factors,” he added.
The brand new faculty bus system will probably be collectively operated by the Ministry of Schooling, Abilities, Youth and Info and the Ministry of Science, Power, Telecommunications and Transport.
It’s set to launch in September 2025 and can provide rides for as little as $20 per journey.
Transport Minister, Hon. Daryl Vaz, stated that 100 buses will probably be deployed throughout rural parishes, drastically lowering fares that at present vary from $300 to $600 day by day.
“We’re going to have them on a cashless system in order that there isn’t any want for the coed to make use of money, and likewise to facilitate them with the concession that the Jamaica City Transit Firm (JUTC) now offers…,” he famous.
The buses, that are manufactured for america market will probably be retrofitted for Jamaica’s terrain. Implementation will probably be finished on a phased foundation.
Underneath part one, 50 buses will probably be procured by early June to begin refurbishing work for them to be put in service for the beginning of the brand new faculty 12 months in September 2025.
The buses being acquired embody 75, 52, 32, and 20 seat items.
