A month into the new academic year, student leaders at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Mona, and University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) are hailing the dedicated bus service provided by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) as transformative, pointing to its impact on reducing travel costs and improving safety for students.

Roshaun Wynter, UWI Mona Guild president, said the feedback so far from students has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Things are progressing really well,” he said.

“We have a number of students who have been benefiting and have been using the service [and] so far we haven’t gotten any reports of great concern, except that more students from other routes would’ve loved to enjoy the benefit,” he told the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday.

Wynter noted that the service has provided a sense of security for students returning home after late classes.

“We are also very proud that our commuting students who traverse the dedicated routes and have late-night classes can now be at ease knowing that this much safer option exists,” he added.

At a press conference on July 31, the JUTC announced that it would provide dedicated bus services for students at both The UWI and UTech, connecting them to key locations including Half-Way-Tree, Portmore, Spanish Town, and Old Harbour.

Later, on August 11, during a political mass rally at Half-Way-Tree Square in St Andrew, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness declared that students from primary school through tertiary level would be able to travel for free on JUTC buses for two months, starting September — a move Wynter described as highly beneficial for students.

“The Pelicans are very happy about the current arrangement made by the Government that allows them to travel for free, where their ID cards are presented, as it offers temporary relief to those with financial challenges,” Wynter said.

Pelicans is a reference to UWI students, staff, and alumni.

Wynter also dismissed claims that buses were not arriving on time.

“We have gotten positive feedback re the timeliness and we allow a short period after our latest class before boarding for departure occurs for the late-night buses. So classes end at 9:00 pm and typically we board at 9:15 pm,” he said.

He also forwarded a message he received from one of the school’s commuting students representative who said: ‘Well, from my side, there has been no concern about buses being late. As a matter of fact, the buses are often very early. Sometimes 15-20 minutes early.’

Wynter also pointed out that one of the most significant impacts of the bus system has been reports of students moving off campus, thanks to easier access to reliable transportation.

“The new routes have also done a lot for our students who live out of town. I know students who travel from May Pen to Old Harbour, take the connection to UWI, Mona routinely, bridging the gap for some who would otherwise struggle with paying hall fees. So the Old Harbour route can serve as a connection with May Pen. I have had reports from students who utilise both, and one in particular moved off hall this year due to financing. That student has now been using the service daily. So without the service there wouldn’t have been that work-around and access to pursue a university degree,” he explained.

However, while he expressed gratitude for the bus service, he voiced hope that in the future the JUTC will expand its fleet and routes to serve more commuting students, further easing transportation, while continuing to develop the rural express service for students living on campus who wish to travel to their homes in rural areas.

At UTech, Students’ Union President Percival Roberts echoed similar views, stressing how well the service has been embraced.

“Yes, students are using the service and they’re well receptive of it. We’re seeing positive feedback, especially on
TikTok, we’re seeing persons making videos about it, so it’s been well received,” Roberts told the Observer.

He added that both early and late commuters were benefiting from the service.

“For the morning session, it assists the students to get to classes on time, and for the late nights it just gives more peace of mind and comfort knowing that they can go safely,” he said.