Transport centre in downtown Kingston to open soon

CHANGES ARE coming to the public transportation system in downtown Kingston as the long-awaited Urban Transport Centre, near Port Royal Street and Water Lane, is close to becoming operational.

Details of the proposed new arrangements have not been made public, but bus and taxi operators who use downtown will get a chance to discuss them today during the first of two meetings with representatives of several regulatory agencies at the Jamaica Conference Centre.

The other meeting will be held at the same venue tomorrow.

Chance for review

Some of the agencies to be represented at the meeting are the police, the Transport Authority, the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation and Urban Development Corporation.

A statement from the Transport Authority yesterday said the meetings would provide operators a chance to "review and voice their concerns regarding the proposed changes for public-passenger vehicle operations in downtown Kingston".

Yesterday, the Jamaica Association of Transport Owners and Operators, a group that represents a wide cross section of bus operators, said it had several concerns, but urged its members to attend the meetings.

The opening of the Urban Transport Centre, which has been completed for some time, has been delayed to allow for several design flaws to be corrected.