Tuesday, June 15 2010

MOTORISTS will have to wait a bit before they can use the Priority Bus Route (PBR). The Ministry of Works and Transport yesterday in a press-release stated that the June 16 start date for a three-month trial run of general use of the PBR within specified hours, has to be changed to a future date.

According to the release, arrangements are still being finalised before the PBR can be open for its three-month trial. Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner, who is pushing for the use of the PBR on a trial basis, to see if this could alleviate daily traffic congestion along the Eastern Main Road and Churchill Roosevelt and Beetham Highways, is expected to return home today after attending the opening ceremony of the FIFA 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa in his capacity as FIFA vice-president. Minister in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Rudranath Indarsingh, told Newsday yesterday that the Ministry still needs to be involved in proper consultations before opening the PBR.

“The 16 of June was always a tentative date (to launch the trial run use of the PBR). We are still finalising arrangements and engaging in discussions with the relevant stakeholders. This is something we want to ensure we get right from the get go,” Indarsingh said.

President of the Route II Maxi Taxi Association Lionel Phillips revealed certain issues which arose at a meeting with Warner on Corpus Christi (Thursday June 3) still need to be fine- tuned.

“We were told that officials at the Ministry still have to assess the risk of private-hire (PH) taxi drivers seeking to ply their vehicles for hire along the bus route and people driving in and out of restricted areas along the route,” Phillips said. He added the Ministry is still overseeing the creation of road signs to be placed along the PBR to advise the motoring public of certain rules and restrictions on use of the PBR during the trial period. Warner is proposing the PBR be opened for public use between the hours of 4 am to 6 am and 8.30 am to 2.30 pm, Monday to Friday, for “high occupancy” vehicles of no less than three persons including the driver.

At no time, he stressed, will commercial vehicles, motorcyles and bicylces be allowed use of the PBR. Between 6 am and 8.30 am, only authorised vehicles will be allowed the use of the PBR.

The public will be notified of the new official date for the temporary opening of the PBR. Until such time, the Ministry advises everyone to observe the current regulations for use of the PBR.