TRANSPORT Minister Daryl Vaz says Cabinet will soon decide on whether to implement the deferred 16 per cent fare increase for public transport operators, following completion of a Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) review on its possible impact on inflation.

At the same time, Vaz announced that changes to the Transport Authority Amendment Regulations 2025 will now make it an offence for public passenger vehicles (PPVs) to stop, solicit, or pick up passengers at gas stations.

“This will now be restricting them to use only designated PPV stops, thus reducing congestion and disorder in the public space,” Vaz stated at a news conference on Thursday.

The overall fare adjustment, totalling 35 per cent, was approved in August 2023 after extensive consultations with public transport representatives. The first 19 per cent was implemented immediately, while the remaining 16 per cent was deferred due to concerns about its potential impact on inflation.

That decision was made in agreement with transport associations, which supported holding off until economic conditions improved.

Vaz said the ministry had now received the findings of the BOJ study and as such he will be, “taking a submission to Cabinet in the coming weeks for Cabinet to deliberate and to make a final decision on the fare increases”.

“The inflation rate definitely is going down. I’m not quite sure it has reached the stage where a 16 per cent increase will have a significant impact on it but I want to thank the transport operators and to let them know that we have not forgotten them,” he said.

Vaz also announced that under the changes to the Transport Authority Amendment Regulations, the authority will monitor drivers’ conduct more carefully through a register.

“The Transport Authority will be empowered to establish and maintain a PPV drivers’ register that monitors the conduct of drivers of public passenger vehicles to ensure they satisfy the fit and proper criteria,” Vaz said.

“The Transport Authority will also be empowered to conduct a yearly inspection of all licensed stage carriages and express carriages as to their suitability to carry passengers, and grant the owners of licensed stage carriages and express carriages an annual licence permit in the prescribed form upon payment of the prescribed fee,” Vaz explained.

He noted that the licensing process will be streamlined through digital transformation with the implementation of the Transport Authority Advanced Management System.

“The authority has also taken steps to enhance operational efficiency through online licensing. Customers can now apply for and receive licences online [thus] reducing congestion, increasing convenience, enhancing operational efficiency, and lowering the misery index of our citizens,” Vaz said.