Transport Authority puts Measures in Place to Increase Efficiency

As part of the reorganization of its operations, the Transport Authority will be implementing a number of measures for the 2007-2008 licensing period.
These include reduced processing time for applications, which the Authority began accepting on February 15.
Minister of Transport and Works, Robert Pickersgill, who made the announcement at a recent press briefing at his offices in Kingston, said that following a review of the applications process, amendments have been made to improve efficiency, resulting in a waiting period of just five days for renewal of licences for public passenger vehicles and commercial carriers, while new applications will be processed within 21 working days of receipt of the relevant documents.
In addition, he said, new high-speed network computers and printers have been purchased and members of staff have been retrained in customer service.
By law, all categories of licences for public passenger vehicles and commercial carriers will expire on March 31, including rural stage licences, which are renewable every four years. In a bid to facilitate efficient processing of applications, the Authority has traditionally accepted applications from as early as February 15 of each year.
Meanwhile, in anticipation of the increased customer flow to its offices, the Authority has purchased tents for three of its four locations to serve as reception areas for customers. The tents will also house the customer service help desks where persons will be assisted with the completion and submission of applications.
In addition, the Minister informed, facilities with adequate parking, have been leased at two locations in Kingston. These are at 121 Maxfield Avenue on the premises of the Alumina de Caribe and 24 Lyndhurst Road on the premises of Challenger Transport Company, from where a shuttle bus service will be provided, free of cost, to the Authority’s head office.
“Over the years, customers have been inconvenienced by inadequate parking facilities, and in some instances, their vehicles have been towed away from Maxfield Avenue. The Transport Authority, cognizant of the inconvenience experienced by customers, has leased facilities at two locations in Kingston,” he noted.