Better bus terminals and more modernised operations are en route to Barbadians using public transportation.
This is according to Minister of Transport and Works Santia Bradshaw, as she addressed a service at Calvary Moravian Church, Roebuck Street, The City, recently as part of activities marking the 70th anniversary of the Barbados Transport Board.
“We are looking at the modernisation of our terminals because for many years, in particular the terminal down by Princess Alice Highway has not had the improvements, particularly for the ones going to the rural parishes as we would have wanted,” she said.
“We now have the designs completed for the Seaview terminal which is at Princess Alice Highway and, hopefully later this year, we will be able to move to see an improved Seaview terminal.”
Bradshaw, who is also Acting Prime Minister, reminded the congregation that the Transport Board was undergoing significant transformation.
“As part of our reform, the Barbados Transport Board is being transitioned into the Barbados Mass Transit Authority, a new institutional framework that retains the proud history of the past while introducing modern Government structures, improved financial management, a sharper focus on customer service, and improved efficiency using modern technology and the enfranchisement of our workers being at the heartbeat of the changes.
“The transition team has been working diligently to compile the proposals for the new structure, which will form the basis of the consultation with the staff and our union representatives.
“On the current course, it is expected that the revised Cabinet paper will be before Cabinet by next week and discussions will begin before the end of this month . . . . This transition is necessary if we are to deliver the kind of public transportation system that Barbadians deserve – one that is reliable, people-centred and financially sustainable.”
The minister stated that the upgrading process had already begun, even ahead of this transformation, and highlighted some of the current programmes addressing efficiency in various areas of operation, including electric buses, of which there are currently 89.
“Today we have the largest fleet of electric buses in this part of the Western Hemisphere. This has been a bold step towards sustainable and climate-friendly transport, and a commitment by the Government
to address long-standing issues for our commuters.
“The good news is that we are on track to receive an additional 35 electric buses by the end of this year. This will bring about much-needed reinforcement of the fleet and help to reduce the delays, improve the scheduling and enhance service reliability across the island.”
Bradshaw said they were looking at setting up a dedicated school bus service, adding that “more of this will be coming in the next few weeks”.
“I think we have recognised that the elderly people, in particular, continue to complain that they can’t get a bus because the Transport Board has to send the buses sometimes to the schools.
“So if it is going to require us as a Government to dedicate resources specifically to being able to move our children, while at the same time being about to have the increased capacity to move people, to allow people to make better decisions in terms of putting down their car and being able to take a reliable transportation system, then that is what we are going to do.
“These investments are not only just about replacing old vehicles. They are about building a modern, accessible and responsive system that can serve the needs of our people well into the future,” she said.
A review of bus routes was also in the works.
“We are actively reviewing and redesigning the national bus routes,” the minister added.
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