Public for it...maxis against

The announcement by Transport Minister, Franklin Khan of a plan to introduce a light rail mass transit in this country, might lighten the hearts of those who suffer a daily agony of frustration in suffocating traffic. But before you jump for joy, consider that it will take some years before this becomes a reality. In the meantime, commuters still have to deal with daily travelling woes and frustrating traffic congestion. Khan said early next year proposals would be invited for “design, finance and construct” of the LRT. He disclosed that a contract had already been awarded for a feasibility study on the National Transportation System and within the first six months, Government will take an “investment decision on the project.” And while this news gives hope, there is the Maxi Taxi Association to contend with.

The Association is against the idea but since City Gate was constructed in 1995, the transportation hub has deteriorated rapidly. Vice president of the Route 2 Maxi Association, Lennox Phillip, said even though they are aware of the traffic woes and the problems at City Gate, they are hoping that government would invest more money into the facility and the maxi taxi industry, rather than introduce another form of transport. Phillip also felt that constructing a new transportation network would place more burden on Government’s funding since, like the PTSC bus system, it will have to be heavily subsidised in order to benefit the public. He suggested that instead of going the way of the light rail network, Government should improve the maxi taxi industry and current bus system. He pointed out that because not all of the buses are operational, more and more people were relying on the maxi taxis.

Phillip stressed that the maxi taxi industry was efficient enough to deal with the demand from the travelling public, but what was needed was better management, including an overall improvement of the City Gate facilities. “The light rail system will not solve the traffic problems. Government has already subsidised so heavily into the PTSC system. If they subsidise just as heavily into the already existing system and pump more money into improving City Gate, we will not have the kind of traffic congestion we do today,” he said. Phillip lamented that unauthorised vehicles travelling along the PBR were causing a traffic slow-down and a bottleneck of maxi taxis on the route. The unauthorised vehicles are those which travel along the PBR without a pass. “Those people who break the law and travel on the PBR without a pass don’t realise that they are slowing down the maxi taxi service and causing more problems with traffic congestion,” he said.

City Gate horrors

Next year marks ten years that Port-of-Spain’s major transportation hub has been in existence. But what started off as a blessing for daily commuters, is now a daily horror. If one is caught in the hub at morning peak hours, you’re almost sure to get stuck in a long line of maxi taxis for at least ten to 15 minutes as it approaches the off-loading bay. Rather than be late for work, most people opt to take the extra-long walk out of the facility and sometimes have to walk even longer distances in order to get to their destination. However, it has become a contradiction, since the extra walking only adds to time spent on foot for the commuter. Phillip admits that this is an extra burden for the travelling public, pointing out that the probelm is more of a management issue under PTSC’s jurisdiction. PTSC’s Acting CEO, Phil Subiah, said the City Gate bottleneck was a reflection of the traffic congestion we have in the country today. Commuters using City Gate also have to put up with flooding when rain falls and because of poor drainage, the water sometimes stays there for days.

The moment it rains, City Gate and environs are flooded, and pedestrians have to jump from the pavements to the middle of the roads to make their way through the city. Pedestrians sometimes have to sink their feet into the dirty water, getting them soaked and exposed to the threat of skin infections. Sometimes, they have no choice. It is their daily life. What about the disabled, children and elderly? Even though the Port-of-Spain City Corporation insists that the drains are being cleaned, large collections of debris, bottles and other forms of rubbish are evident. The sheds at the hub’s loading bays are too small for the thick crowd which gathers at peak hours, who sometimes have to suffer through inclement weather. In a letter to the Editor from an irate commuter stated: “We have to interact with the cockroaches which run around, and play hide and seek with the pigeons to ensure that we don’t get droppings on us.”

The writer also pointed out that there were limited seats on the compound and they were always dirty. “Commuters have become like animals with the rushing stampede and have no respect for man, woman, child or the disabled,” it continues. “There is a lack of security and the buses don’t arrive on time. “The Minister of Transport promised new buses. Please don’t forget the people who travel this route, the buses are unreliable and shut down. Are we really ready for Vision 2020?” the commuter asked. A news report revealed that 12 accordion-type buses which seat 100 each, have already been ordered by the Ministry of Works and Transport, while another order of 25 new conventional buses is to be finalised. All this means little to the suffering traveller who believes the light rail system is the answer.

The Light Rail

The US Light Rail Transit Association described LRT in this way — “This form of transport allows you to travel about town smoothly, comfortably, quietly, looks great, doesn’t spew out noxious fumes over pedestrians, reaches right into the city centre, doesn’t need parking and is economical to use.” The modern term, “light rail” embraces tramways but goes further and faster than traditional tramways.

Benefits of Light Rail Transit

Transport Commissioner, Nathaniel Douglas, said while he could not respond on Khan’s proposals for the LRT, he supports the system as it will definitely ease traffic congestion in TT. Environmentalist, Eden Shand, also supports LRT, pointing out that it is more environmentally friendly. “It does not produce as much vehicular emissions, so the damage to the environment is much less,” he explained. Shand pointed out that in constructing the rail, there would be short-term damage to the environment and this would be temporary and the long-term benefits were better. The US Light Rail Association described light rail as “clean and green,” as it enhances the environment and there were no emissions at street level. It pointed out that light rail is safe, many times safer than car travel, it avoids traffic congestion and there are no violent movements. Phillip Greaves, president of the Association of Vehicle Inspection Stations, has also voiced his support for LRT.

His concern, however, is whether or not the relevant authorities would be able to produce an efficient rail and road network for the tram lines. He noted that the reason there was so much traffic congestion in the city was because there were too many vehicles on the roads in comparison to the capacity of available roads. He said because of this, citizens can expect bottle-necks at certain traffic points throughout the country. He is hoping that this does not occur with the light rail system, especially since the light rail is supposed to ease traffic congestion. “In order for this system to work, therefore, we must have proper road networking and a proper study of all the bottleneck areas or it could produce more chaos,” said Greaves. Former president of the TT Construction Industry, Hugh Shamber, has hailed the light rail transit system, as the most viable option to ease the traffic congestion in this country.

Speaking with Sunday Newsday, Shamber also noted the very high traffic congestion in TT. He felt that with Government’s further plans to get the Free Trade Area of the Americas office in Port-of-Spain and the development of the city, this could result in further commuting and travelling strain for the City’s centre. “The light rail transit system in this case, is the most viable and efficient form of transportation which can help ease the traffic congestion. It is cost effective and reliable. Everywhere around the world uses it.” “Since the majority of traffic congestion occurs along the East/West corridor and the highways, especially the Solomon Hochoy Highway, those areas will benefit the most,” he said. Shamber pointed out that Government would have to take the bottleneck areas into consideration and carefully work out, how to avoid further traffic congestion.