MoBay traffic initiative now on stream - mayor

Barrington Flemming, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Mayor of Montego Bay Glendon Harris says despite the lack of funds, the St James Parish Council has begun to implement a number of interim measures to address chronic traffic congestion and lack of parking plaguing the western city.

The introduction of a $55-million traffic-management system in November 2009 was expected to ease the traffic congestion and limited parking in downtown Montego Bay but, two months shy of three years, Harris says some problems still persist.

The latest initiative of the council was the designation of a section of King Street as the park station for the Montego Bay to Cornwall Courts, Farm Heights and Rose Heights routes, which the mayor said has already proven to be successful.

"You can see the difference on Market Street coming from Sam Sharpe Square. The roadway is now clear most of the time, which allows for smoother flow of traffic along that major thoroughfare," the mayor said.

Harris said the council would be rolling out additional measures in the coming days to deal with other areas of concern in Montego Bay. He said the council was serious about the restoration of order and this was just one of several initiatives to come.

barrington.flemming@gleanerjm.com