KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby says that following positive results over the Christmas season traffic changes in downtown Kingston will remain in effect.

“What we have observed and— also what commuters, taxmen, vendors and business owners have said to us [is] that they had welcomed these changes. However, they have even outlined some minor things that we should consider and we are going to consider those recommendations,” Swaby said following a walkthrough of the downtown Kingston area recently.

The mayor said reassessment of the traffic plans would come in February at the earliest. He also addressed what he described as the misuse of the Pechon Street Transport Centre.

“Clearly it’s not being used for what it was designated for. I’ve seen trailers inside there, businesses inside there and it should be where the buses terminate and taxis terminate,” he said.

Swaby indicated that the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) will have meetings with the police and market district personnel to address the issue.

He also highlighted the vendors in the downtown area, lauding them for keeping their word and adhering to the traffic changes.

“I must commend the vendors of Haywood Street, Princess Street and Beckford Street. We agreed on certain parameters that they apply their wares and I must say that they have kept their word. We’ll be having further discussions with them to make sure that for the rest of the year, they continue to vend in the area that is so designated,” he said.

The traffic changes dictate that Heywood Street — heading east to west to Orange Street; West Street — heading south between Spanish Town Road and Beckford Street; Pechon Street — heading south between Spanish Town Road and Darling Street; and Beckford Street — heading west up to Orange Street, will all accommodate only one-way traffic.