KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Transport & Mining Robert Montague is set to launch a public transport liberalisation pilot project, which he says will result in the opening of 1,260 routes across the island, 100 spaces on select Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) sub-franchise routes and the offer of Hackney Taxi road licences to the market on Monday, September 10.

According to a release from the Transport Authority, under this pilot some 996 route taxi and 264 rural stage carriage routes will be opened for a 12-week period ending November 30, 2018.

Another, 100 spaces on select JUTC stage carriage routes which are not currently being serviced by the bus company, will also be offered to the market.

Additionally, the Transport Authority will consider applications for Hackney Carriage Service in St James, St Ann, Westmoreland, Trelawny and Manchester.

The pilot is expected to increase the availability of licensed public transportation services to the commuting public especially in the rural areas where there is growing demand for public transportation particularly for students at the start of the new school year.

Montague said the public transportation liberalisation pilot, technical considerations, as well as a feedback from the consultations will be instrumental in the ministry’s assessment of the likely national impact of the full liberalisation of the public transportation system, and the expansion of commuters’ access to safe, reliable and affordable public transportation services in every nook and cranny of the Island.

In the meantime, Montague is calling on unlicensed transport operators to take advantage of this unique opportunity to become compliant with the law.

He said that the public consultations on the 16-point transportation reform proposals announced in the sectoral debate on May 30, 2018 will continue over the next three months and will include meetings with key stakeholders from insurance companies and other financial service providers.