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By Nakinskie Robinson
Commuters are anxiously bracing for the announced bus and taxi fare hike to take effect.
The looming 35 per cent increase will be implemented in two parts and will see public passengers paying an additional 19 per cent on existing fares starting Sunday.
A further 16 per cent increase will take effect April next year.
Speaking in the House of Representatives Tuesday, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said the fare hike was long overdue.
The minister said the increase takes into account the 25 per cent hike that was promised to operators after the 2021 increase.
But corporate area commuters believe the move was not sensitive to their plight.
Public passenger vehicle operators were charging in excess of $150 despite the 2021 increase permitting a charge of between $115 to $130.
Some commuters have since expressed confusion about the amount they should be paying come Sunday.
"I want to know if it is that they are going to put the increase on the $150 or the $115 because my salary did not increase," one woman told Radio Jamaica News.
Another commuter argued that the fare increase at this time is unwarranted, as it will be difficult on the travelling public.
"I don't think it reasonable for them to raise the bus fare and people salary you have to call it under the bus fare."
Come Sunday, the increase for some popular corporate area routes not serviced by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company are as follows:
Passengers traveling from Maxfield Avenue to Half Way Tree are to pay $130 up from $115.
Those heading from Tavern or Kintyre to Papine will pay $140, up from $115.
Rural area passengers travelling from Kingston to Savanna-la-Mar will pay $1,350.
From Montego Bay to Kingston, commuters will pay $1,190.
Kingston to Ocho Rios moves to $550 and from the capital city to Mandeville, passengers will pay $630.
In the meantime, taxi and bus operators have welcomed the increase.
But some believe the government could have approved a much higher rate given the costs associated with vehicle upkeep and travelling.
"Things expensive and dem ting deh and the fare really cheap," said one operator.
"The gas prices are very high. Most of the time, if you nuh come out and do a full day work and come out half day, you only work to buy gas alone," said another operator, who contended that fare increases have been slow in coming.
Chairman of the Transport Authority Owen Ellington has said there will also be increased visibility in areas where operators are known to overcharge passengers or further breach the Road Traffic Act.
Transport Minister Daryl Vaz also issued a stern warning that those intent on overcharging commuters could have their road license revoked.
The Transport Authority is urging commuters who experience acts of overcharging to report these incidents.
A detailed breakdown of the fare increase will be released in the Sunday Gleaner on October 15.
This will also be available on the Transport Authority's website.
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