Dear Editor,

Permit me to respond to Dawn Alcott’s concerns regarding the current state of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) bus service and the delays in implementing promised improvements, such as the introduction of electric buses, which was published on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 in the Jamaica Observer.

I understand her frustration, and I want to assure all our commuters that we are not oblivious to their needs. Rest assured, the long wait is almost over as the new buses are scheduled to arrive this month. Please bear with us a little while longer.

Alcott asked some pertinent questions and I would like to offer the following responses:

1) Have the JUTC mechanics received adequate training to service and repair these buses? There is so far one public passenger electric bus that is being used in a pilot project to gather valuable data and five more slated to arrive this month. All of these buses come with warranties and will be serviced by the dealer or their representative. While we understand the importance of training, our mechanics will only engage with these units after undergoing extensive training.

2) Are there enough charging stations across the island? Our licence restricts us from operating islandwide, but we are permitted to do so within the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR). With the introduction of our first electric bus to the fleet, we currently have one charging port, which is sufficient for the one bus, and an additional three are to be put in place for the other five buses.

3) What about the spare parts, have they been procured along with these buses? Yes, adequate spare parts have been ordered and will accompany the arrival of the new buses.

4) Are these buses conducive to Jamaica’s terrain and weather conditions? We are currently using the first public passenger electric bus in a pilot project to gather as much information as possible to better understand the capability of the bus.

Meantime, it is important to note that for over two decades the JUTC has relied on diesel-intensive units to power our operations. With the integration of compressed natural gas buses and electric units, we are not only cutting our carbon footprint (which is good for society and the environment at large) but at the same time modernising the company’s operations. Globally, transit companies are moving away from one source of energy to multiple sources, and the JUTC is no different.

We appreciate your acknowledgement of the efforts made by the JUTC management and staff, particularly the dedicated drivers who consistently go above and beyond to ensure passenger satisfaction. Your warm encomium will no doubt help to foster a positive work environment and further motivate excellence, especially during these challenging times.

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to hearing from you as we strive to build an improved and progressive transport system that benefits all.

Cecil Thoms

Corporate Communications Manager

Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited