TRANSPORT AND Works Minister Dr. Peter Phillips is pushing for an early 2001 deadline for the take-over of bus routes controlled by the National Transport Co-operative Society (NTCS).
He has also reported that 166 buses will begin rolling into the country early next month as part of the fleet which will be used on the Co-operative's Papine and Northern franchises routes.
"I am very hopeful that we will conclude the negotiations in time to meet our schedule for putting operations in place in the new franchises," the Minister said while speaking at last Friday's graduation ceremony at the Advance Driver Training Centre, Lakes Pen in St. Catherine, where 92 persons got certificates after completing three-week and six-week driving courses.
A meeting between the Ezroy Millwood-led NTCS and the Ministry is scheduled for this week, following a two-month break in talks which were induced by Mr. Millwood's decision to throw the matter to the courts for resolution.
Terms of reference
The NTCS boss made the move, claiming that the Government's terms of reference for compensation did not include the unused portion of the franchises but only dealt with payment for their acquisition.
He has filed a lawsuit claiming $5 billion for the roughly five years remaining on the 10-year franchises, and at the same time, put on the table a $1 billion compensation claim for their termination. The discussions this week will therefore centre on the $1 billion claim for termination of the agreement as the $5 billion claim is still before the courts.
Meanwhile, the cashless fare collection system, which will reduce the flow of cash on the Government-run, Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses, kicks into operation early next year, the Minister told his audience. He reported that Wayfarer Transit System Service, providers of the new fare system, is carrying out pilot testing on the Papine and Mona routes. "They are working the system and testing their arrangements for distribution and the programming of the cards," he said.
The so-called "smart cards" are integral to the new fare system. Once a commuter has a card, he will be able to go into a designated outlet and pay for various amounts to be read onto it. He can then use the card on JUTC buses, which are equipped with the technology to deduct the fares. The new system is expected to provide a safer environment for the bus service to operate.
