JUTC Gets 12 New Buses

Twelve new buses have arrived in the island to boost the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) fleet and help ease the transportation challenges faced by commuters.

Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said that the compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, which were cleared at the Kingston Wharf on Wednesday (April 10), add to the six units that arrived in January.

“That will put us at 18, with two more to arrive in May. Those are specially outfitted for the disabled community; that will be 20 buses,” he noted.

“When you look at the 50 buses that came in last year July… 45 diesel and five electric [buses] at a value of $1 billion and these 20 CNG buses [valued at $650 million], that would be $1.65 billion that has been returned to the people of Jamaica based on our good fiscal responsibility,” he pointed out.

Minister Vaz noted that the Government has earmarked $2.6 billion for the acquisition of 100 buses, which are scheduled to arrive before the start of the 2024/25 school year in September.

“I can confirm that the 100 buses I committed – CNG buses – are now in production. Deposits have been made and they will be in production from April 5 and May 10, which means they will leave China at the end of May and arrive here by the end of June for July. That would be 170 new buses in 18 months – 50 under previous Ministers, and 120 in less than one year, under my stewardship,” Minister Vaz said.

He noted that the Government has committed to the procurement of 330 buses up to fiscal year 2026 at a cost of $4.5 billion.

“So, we have an additional 230 buses that are going to be ordered. The total spend with the 100 buses, the 70 buses before, and the 230 buses, would be almost $10 billion,” he said, noting that the investment is a testament to the Government’s commitment to improving the public transport system.

Meanwhile, Minister Vaz said that further announcements will be made to address challenges in the transport sector, specifically related to taxi operators, since the additional 16 per cent increase that should have taken effect on April 1 has been postponed.