JUTC reports Revenue boost since reclaiming Bus Routes

The reform of the sub-franchise system, which the Government rolled out in April, has resulted in a 58 per cent increase in revenues for the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), over the similar period last year April to July.

The state-owned bus company has also recorded a 28 per cent increase in ridership, with average monthly earnings of $366 million.

Minister of Transport Works and Housing, Hon. Dr. Omar Davies, highlighted these improvements at a press conference held at his Maxfield Avenue offices in Kingston today (Aug. 20), to announce fare increases, which take effect on Sunday, August 24.

The reform of the sub-franchise system started with the JUTC reclaiming several routes operated by franchisees.

Minister Davies said that compared with figures from two years ago, losses have decreased from $250 million monthly, to $162 million last month.

Managing Director of the JUTC, Colin Campbell told journalists that since April, there has been a $5 million increase in revenue weekly, which represents a 30 per cent increase.

The target is $17 million per week. “We are not quite there yet…there are still certain things to be tightened up on the regulatory and enforcement side…there are still a lot of white plate taxis operating along some of our main routes,” he remarked.

Mr. Campbell noted however, that with the new transit police team now in place, enforcement activities will be stepped up over the next several weeks.

Meanwhile, the company will increase the number of units dispatched daily from 400 to 445 as of next month. A year ago, the JUTC was operating an average of 240 buses daily, earning average monthly revenues of $240 million.