KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) –The Ministry of Transport and Mining is preparing a submission which will be sent to the Public Investment Management Committee, following the completed feasibility studies for the new Portmore Transportation Hub.

The hub is estimated to cost just over J$8.5 billion, Portfolio Minister, Michael Henry, told the House of Representatives, today.

Making his contribution to the 2016/17 Sectoral Debate, the Minister informed that after the submission, the document will be sent to Cabinet for approval.

“The hub is intended to improve the service planning of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), by reducing the number of kilometres travelled and associated costs, while increasing the passenger load factor on each trip,” he said.

Henry further noted that the hub will encourage some commuters who now travel via private transportation to use the public transportation system.

He said this would reduce the number of motor vehicles that travel between Portmore and St Andrew daily, and increase the ridership for public transportation in the area.

The Minister said the hub will be built on undeveloped land at the Portmore Town Centre.

Henry’s presentation was titled: ‘Getting Back to the Future Prosperity on the Horizon’