DR Omar Davies, minister of transport, works and housing, says his ministry is seeking to have transportation in downtown Kingston rationalised by June, 2016.

Speaking in the House of Representatives in the recently concluded sectoral debate, Dr Davis said there is a need to rationalise the use of the space earmarked downtown for transportation and attendant facilities.

“The central business district of downtown Kingston is the busiest commercial area in the country. Consequently, there is a high demand for public transportation, especially at peak periods,” said Dr Davis said.

He pointed out that the area serves a high percentage of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company’s (JUTC) fleet, as well as the buses of private operators serving areas outside of the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR).

He noted that the demand by both traffic and pedestrians, manoeuvring through the area, and the facilitation of spatial connections with other transportation nodes, have resulted in the need to rationalise the use of the space earmarked for transportation and attendant facilities.

He said the new arrangements will see improvements in the operations of JUTC buses and the Public-Passenger Vehicles (PPVs) regulated by the Transport Authority at the following locations in downtown, Kingston: Pechon Street; Darling Street; Water Lane North and South; Downtown Transportation Centre; North and South Parade.

The arrangement will also create a reduction in the number of JUTC buses parked in the Parade area, as the buses will be located away from the site and dispatched on an “as-needed basis”.

He said that the reorganisation will facilitate the programmed resuscitation of the cultural attractions of downtown Kingston.

The initiative involves the collaborative efforts of the Ministry and its entities (JUTC and Transport Authority), as well as the Urban Development Corporation, the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation , and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

“I wish to indicate that the MP for Western Kingston (Desmond McKenzie) — the location which is the focal point of much of the activity — is an important partner in this initiative,” he stated.

“Plans for the reorganisation flows are far advanced and were initially aimed to be implemented in March. However, there have been some unforeseen delays but, roll out will take place by June, 2016,” he said.

— Balford Henry