JUTC to Roll Out Rural Pilot Service

Beginning September, the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) will be rolling out a three-route operation in sections of the rural area.

The pilot will be extended from Old Harbour in St. Catherine to near  Clarendon/Manchester, including school routes in and around May Pen, particularly the Garvey Maceo High School in Southwest Clarendon.

Minister of Transport and Mining, Hon. Mike Henry, notes that on this route, many reports of tragedies involving undesirable and illegal school bus operations have emerged over recent years.

Making his presentation in the 2016/17 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 8, Mr. Henry said the provision of the bus service would help to reduce those reports and minimise the money spent on bus fare for students.

The Minister further noted that provisions are in place for 35 new buses to be added to the fleet during this fiscal year.

He said a draft submission has been prepared asking Cabinet to grant approval for the purchase of new buses, which are important to the structure and continuity of the JUTC.

“Cabinet is being asked to consider budgetary support which relates also to the Special Consumption Tax and the Ad Valorem Tax associated with the purchase of fuel by the bus company,” he said.

In the meantime, the Minister informed that within the next two weeks, the Ministry will be updating the nation on the affairs of the State-run JUTC.

“I will reveal the true picture of the company which over recent years has been painted, through intense public relations, as a smooth-running and efficiently operating entity,” he said.

On the  Rural/Urban Transport Plan, Mr. Henry said it will be developed with a view to fully implement the colour coding of public passenger vehicles, issuing parish licence plates and standardising the fare structure across the country and not just the city.

He said colour coding of public passenger vehicles is a strategy that is part of providing an improved safety mechanism for commuters and one of the initiatives to modernise public transport islandwide.