KINGSTON, Jamaica – Nearly 100 Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses have been restored and re-entered into the entity’s fleet for the 2022/23 academic year, which commenced on Monday, September 5.

This, according to the JUTC, has been resulting in less congestion and relatively smooth travelling for commuters across the Kingston and St Andrew and other areas served by the bus company.

“We [had] no chaos, we [didn’t] have large crowds of people waiting for buses,” Minister of Transport and Mining, Audley Shaw, said.

He was speaking on Monday after observing back-to-school activities at the Half -Way-Tree Transport Centre in St Andrew.

Shaw commended the JUTC “for doing their very best to get out [these] buses today”.

He assured that “we (the Ministry) are going to work with them to ensure that they keep these buses on the road”.

JUTC Managing Director, Paul Abrahams, explained that the agency undertook the maintenance exercise for the buses over the summer, and had strategically reduced the rollout of units during that time.

“We have rehabilitated buses that have been out of service for a while [for reasons] such as engine… and transmission repairs. All in all, congratulations to the maintenance department.

They have worked assiduously to bring us back to this position,” Abrahams stated.

He affirmed the agency’s commitment to upkeep of the buses, pointing out that, “the great job ahead of us right now is to maintain this… that’s the challenge; it is difficult to maintain, but we’re going to do it”.

Additionally, the entity is hoping that, over time, more buses will be rehabilitated so they can become accessible to the commuting public.

Meanwhile, the JUTC is encouraging travellers, especially new students, to ensure they get their smarter cards and observe COVID-19 and other health protocols, such as mask-wearing and sanitising, while aboard the buses.