Transport Authority Generates 88,000 Road Licences

The Transport Authority (TA) has surpassed the production target of 86,000 road licences, to record a landmark 88,000.

Minister of Transport and Mining, Hon. Audley Shaw, said these include Hackney, Rural Stage, Contract Carriage, Route Taxi, Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) Subfranchise, Private and Public Carriers Licences.

He made the disclosure during his contribution to the 2023/24 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 9).

Mr. Shaw also informed that monitoring of public transportation services in Kingston was also enhanced with the re-establishment and relocation of the TA’s Operations Department to the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre from its previous location at Maxfield Avenue.

“This strategic positioning of the enforcement arm of the Authority closer to the hub of transport activity fostered better monitoring within the Half-Way Tree area and other key corridors in the metropolis,” he stated.

The TA also retrofitted several key areas to enhance customer service delivery.

Customer-centric services are now provided in one location at 107 Maxfield Avenue, which houses the Licensing Department and Motor Vehicle Release Unit, while the Corporate Office remains at 119 Maxfield Ave.

Additionally, customers in St. Catherine are now benefiting from the commissioning of the Transport Authority’s Linstead satellite office.

“Since its establishment, there has been marked improvement in public order within the public transportation services in the bustling township of Linstead,” Mr. Shaw indicated.

The entity is also targeting other initiatives for fiscal year 2023/24, including implementation of an islandwide camera network infrastructure with other agencies to improve monitoring capabilities within the transport sector, and temporary relocation of the Transport Authority’s Lakes Pen pound facility in St. Catherine to Water Lane in Kingston.

Other initiatives include the implementation of the TA’s Digital Transformation Project.

This will focus on digitising all processes associated with licensing, operations and the legislative framework governing the Authority; the establishment of a satellite office in St. Elizabeth, and the rollout of an Electronic Ticketing System to replace written summonses.