KINGSTON, Jamaica — A new Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) route between Mandeville and Kingston, Route 512, will be launched on Monday with fares as low as $250, going up to $600.

There will be three routes each day, from Mandeville to downtown Kingston via the East-West Highway.

Departures from Mandeville are scheduled for 5:45 am, 10:00 am, and 3:10 pm, while departures from downtown Kingston are scheduled for 7:55 am, 1:00 pm and 5:20 pm.

The cost for a one-way trip for adults using SmartFare cards is $500, while adults paying with cash will pay $600. Concession passengers, including students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities using SmartFare cards, pay $250, while concession passengers paying in cash will be charged $600.

Route 512 will operate as a regular JUTC route with 53 seats and 50 per cent standing room. Seats will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Minister of Transport Daryl Vaz had previously announced several rural express routes to be launched in the coming months.

READ: New buses, new routes

“We are proud to be serving the people of Mandeville with a safe, reliable and cost-effective option for long-distance commuting. This new route reflects our dedication to bridging communities, supporting economic activity and delivering service with care. I’m originally from Mandeville, and sometimes I rarely get to visit home because of the cost. But now, with this new route, I can travel more often. It’s truly a game-changer,” said Corporate Communications Manager, Shantole Thompson.

As part of the launch, the JUTC team will be stationed at Cecil Charlton Park from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm on July 28 to assist commuters with SmartFare card top-ups and to facilitate new sign-ups for people getting a JUTC card for the first time.