Major changes are expected at the new Municipal Transport Centre in downtown Kingston on Tuesday as the authorities move to address the problems associated with the opening of the multi-million dollar facility.
RJR News was on hand during the first full day of operations on Monday and witnessed a mixture of confusion and anger among commuters.
This occurred despite the best efforts of key stakeholders who were on hand from as early as 4:30 in the morning.
Town Clerk, Errol Greene, says plans are afoot to enhance the public education drive so that commuters can be better informed of the new arrangements.
"We have already put in more public education (and) the police, the Transport Authority and their inspectors realize that enforcement has to be strengthened. We from the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation have sought approval and will be getting a bull horn to make sure that people entering the transport centre can hear directions about getting to and from their destinations," Mr. Greene said Monday evening on RJR's daily current affairs discussion propgramme Beyond the Headlines.
The Transport Authority has also vowed to crack down on bus and taxi operators who refuse to use the new transport facility.
Instructions have been issued for inspectors to redirect taxis which ply the Jones Town, Waltham Park, and Chisholm Avenue routes.
The Transport Authority says taxis will be seized if the operators fail to use the new centre.
Taxi group wants JUTC shuttle service extended
Meanwhile, one group of taxi operators is recommending changes to the shuttle service being offered by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) at the new Downtown Municipal Transport Centre.
Since the opening of the new transport centre, the state-run bus company has been providing free shuttle that takes commuters from South Parade to the Transport Centre.
But the All Island Taxi Association wants the service to be extended to West Queen Street, to assist vendors travelling with heavy goods.
Head of the Association, Raymond Bynes, who was also speaking on Beyond the Headlines, believes the JUTC and Transport Authority officials should meet with operators of public passenger vehicles to discuss this and other suggestions.
Physical changes needed
And another taxi association is recommending major changes to the physical infrastructure at the Pechon Street bus park to ease congestion.
Pearnel Latouche, Spokesman for the Waltham Park Taxi Association, believes the authorities can use vacant land space beside the facility.
"They should abandon the entrance towards the Pechon Street, hit down the wall there and use the open lot which is there to get additional space for the buses to park. This would alleviate the congestion at the Pechon Street area," he said.