IN light of the proposed January 27 traffic changes for Half-Way-Tree in St Andrew, the state-run Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) is announcing the relocation of several routes within the transport centre.

“The relocation is in an effort to have a smoother flow to the process,” Reginald Allen, JUTC corporate communications manager, told Auto.

“And 10 routes will be affected within the centre,” he continued.

According to Allen, routes to be relocated downstairs are 900 – Half-Way-Tree to Papine; 72 – Half-Way-Tree to August Town; 51x – Three Miles to Papine; 50 – Half-Way-Tree to Seaview Gardens; 50 Express – Seaview Gardens to Papine; and, 75 Express – Six Miles to Papine.

The corporate communications manager said the routes to be shifted upstairs are 21 – Spanish Town to Half-Way-Tree via Molynes Road; 21 Express – Spanish Town to Cross Roads via Half-Way-Tree Road; 21a Express – Spanish Town to Cross Roads via New Kingston; and 23a – Spanish Town to Half-Way-Tree via Dunrobin Avenue.

“The adjustments are necessary to support a road safety initiative outside the transport centre, and the JUTC is happy to be able to assist with pedestrian safety as part of a broad public effort,” said Allen.

Opened in January 2008, the transport centre accommodates 101 JUTC buses only, that ply 63 routes between the Corporate Area, Portmore and Spanish Town in St Catherine, and St Thomas.

On Tuesday, Stephen Shaw of the National Works Agency (NWA) said the end of this month would see traffic changes at the Constant Spring/South Odeon Avenue and Constant Spring Road/Hope Road intersections.

He said the changes would result in an exclusive pedestrian signal phase at these intersections.

According to Shaw, buses exiting the Half-Way-Tree Transport Centre along Constant Spring Road will be restricted to right-turn movement only. In addition, traffic-signal timing at the intersections will be adjusted to accommodate increased walk time for pedestrians.