KINGSTON, Jamaica — Transport Minister Daryl Vaz says concerns raised by St Thomas residents over limited public transportation options are being addressed, with a new route set to begin on Thursday.

Vaz explained that in the current phase of the transport rollout, only one bus has been operating in the parish, running from Albion to Pear Tree River. That service, he said, was designed primarily to cater to the Lysson Centre of Excellence, which has two campuses along that corridor.

“So there have been some concerns and disgruntlement in St Thomas, and that is because the one bus in this phase is assigned to the Albion to Pear Tree River route, which is a special needs route to cater to [primarily] to Lysson Centre of Excellence, which has two campuses on that corridor,” Vaz said.

“Starting tomorrow, the Bethel/Cedar Valley to Morant Bay route will start. And that I think will ease a lot of the anxiety based on the fact that the current route, Albion to Pear Tree, is also serviced by the JUTC, but we have to make provisions for the special needs institutions. So this one will come on stream tomorrow,” he added.

The transport minister further outlined that phase two of the rollout, scheduled between September and November, will see three additional routes implemented for the parish.

“I don’t want St Thomas to feel that they are being forgotten. And we have made adjustments. And tomorrow will be a brighter day for St Thomas with a new route,” he said.

According to Vaz, the routes to come on stream for phase two include:

•  Morant Bay to Happy Grove (including St Thomas Technical/Orange Walk)
• Ramble to Yallahs
• Aeolus Valley to Yallahs
• Dalvey to Morant Bay
• Bath to Morant Bay