KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Transport Authority has already received approximately 5,000 applications for road licences under the Public Transport Liberalisation Pilot.

Minister of Transport and Mining, Robert Montague, who made the disclosure, said that more applications are anticipated as the November 30 deadline for submissions draws closer.

“We are anticipating a mad rush in the last week…. I’m encouraging persons to come in because there will be no extension for this period. Make use of it,” he said.

“If you know of persons… who are operating illegally, now is the time to encourage them to apply for their licence,” he appealed.

Montague was addressing the Transportation Reform Proposal Consultation yesterday at Hotel Four Seasons in St Andrew.

The pilot, launched by Montague on September 10, allows prospective public passenger vehicle (PPV) operators/investors access to road licences for approximately 1,260 new routes; 100 Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) sub-franchise routes; and contract carriage, hackney taxi road licences and hackney carriage services in St James, St Ann, Westmoreland, Trelawny, Manchester and the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region.

Montague said that applicants must meet the requisite criteria in order to receive a licence.

“The vehicle has to be certified and passed fit by the Island Traffic Authority… and, most importantly, you have to have insurance and [provide a] police record,” he pointed out.

The aim of the Transportation Reform Proposal Consultation was to discuss the 16-point transportation reform proposal announced by Montague in May, with the objective of transforming the public transportation system.

The session was the third in a series of consultations being held across the island.

The other two consultations were held with stakeholders in the public transportation sector and representatives of Government entities, including the municipal councils, National Works Agency (NWA) and the Island Traffic Authority (ITA).