Dear Editor,

Route taxis and Coaster buses remain Jamaica’s most widely used means of transportation. They go where Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses do not, offering, in my opinion, a faster and more reliable service.

Yet, with the recent fare increases, we must ask ourselves: Are these services still affordable? Do passengers simply have no choice but to accept the rates set by both the Minister of Transport Daryl Vaz and taxi drivers?

The new eight per cent increase, which pushes the base fare for route taxis to $122.04 and the per kilometre rate to $7.56 (rounded to $8), took effect on June 2, 2026. Another eight per cent increase is scheduled for July 1, 2026. These hikes follow the 19 per cent increase in 2023. Each time fares rise passenger accessibility is reshaped, and tensions between drivers and commuters deepen.

Take, for example, the route from Jones Town to downtown, which is 6.4 kilometres. The new rate should be $160; however, many drivers are now charging $200 instead of the official $160.

To be fair, drivers themselves face rising costs. Fuel prices fluctuate daily, vehicle owners often lease cars to drivers, and many must pay off loans or insurance debts. Still, the downside is clear: Passengers endure months of inflated fares, forced to surrender to what drivers demand rather than what is officially published.

Citizens are not opposed to fare increases in principle. The real issue is overcharging. Reporting violations rarely results in passenger compensation, meaning commuters still suffer losses. Why not implement preventive measures before problems escalate? Jamaica has roughly 200 transport authority personnel patrolling the streets. Why not deploy them more effectively to ensure passengers are charged the correct fares?

Beyond enforcement, Jamaica urgently needs more buses covering more routes. For example, students commuting from downtown to The University of the West Indies currently have only two JUTC options, the 78 or the 68, both serving the campus back gate. But what if a student from the Faculty of Science and Technology needs access via the Mona gate? Or what if someone lives in August Town, where no buses operate? High traffic areas deserve more than two buses, and routes must be revised to meet demand.

Jamaica has the capacity to achieve remarkable improvements. With better resource allocation, expanded bus routes, and stronger enforcement, we can reduce dependence on route taxis and Coasters and build a transportation system that truly serves the people. Let us move towards a future in which affordability and accessibility are guaranteed, not left to chance.

Cheye Ann Meikle

cheye.meikle16@gmail.com