First 100 CNG-Fuelled JUTC Buses Expected Ahead of New Academic Year’s Commencement

The first set of 100 compressed natural gas (CNG)-fuelled buses for the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) are expected to arrive in time for the start of the 2024/25 academic year in September.

This batch forms part of the 300 mixed-energy buses that the Government will be acquiring over the next three years to boost the State-run JUTC’s fleet and address needs in the public transportation system.

Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Hon. Daryl Vaz, provided the details while delivering a statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (January 30).

“The Ministry has redoubled efforts to increase the overall fleet with the addition of 300 mixed-energy buses. These will be added to the system over a three-year period, beginning 2024/25, with the first set of 100 CNG-fuelled buses set to arrive on the island between June and July of this year in time for back to school in September,” he said.

The Minister informed that 10 of the 100 buses will also be equipped for members of the disabled community. He pointed out that additional buses purchased will see 10 per cent earmarked for these persons.

“Currently, the JUTC has 12 buses that are in service for the disabled community, and in addition to the two expected in May 2024, a total of 24 buses that are accessible by members of the disabled community… and those will be on the road by August 2024,” he said.

Mr. Vaz informed that in 2023, a total of 70 new buses, including 45 diesel, 20 CNG and five battery electric buses (BEBs), were purchased.

“Of the 70 buses, 56 have arrived and are currently being used in the service; and by the end of this fiscal year, the remaining 14 units are expected to arrive. Of the 14 units, 12 are expected to arrive by April and the other two will arrive in May 2024 equipped for the disabled community,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister said work is being undertaken to further improve the JUTC’s operations.

“There is still work to do but the bottom line is that you will see a great improvement in the efficiency of the JUTC by virtue of the addition of buses,” he pointed out, noting that the company has been severely impacted by an older fleet of buses and fewer units.

Meanwhile, Minister Vaz said the Battery Electric Bus (BEB) Project, which allows for the testing of six units, commenced in 2023 and is ongoing.

The project is intended to evaluate the performance of these electric vehicles and form the basis for comparison to the diesel and compressed natural gas buses.

“In essence, the move to electric buses is definitely on the cards… but we feel that the technology needs more testing and improvement. So it will come in due course,” Mr. Vaz indicated.