Transport is lifeblood of TT economy

Addressing the first national stakeholders meeting on the Comprehensive National Transportation Study (CNTS) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel last week, Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert said the CTNS "will give us the answers to cure and prevent the suffocation of our transport system and economy."

Imbert explained that the CNTS, which is expected to be completed by 2006, is the "grandchild" of the original National Transport Plan (NTP) that was produced in 1967. "At that time, the planners had the foresight to recognise that without a clear transportation strategy any attempts at tampering with our transportation systems and infrastructure ran the very real risk of creating more problems than they solved.

The minister said the 1967 NTP laid the foundation for nearly every major highway development in TT but it only had a life span of 20 years. Explaining that the framers of this plan could never have anticipated the economic boom of the 1970’s and its spillover effects on the nation’s transportation systems, Imbert said an updated plan should have been produced in 1985 and this plan would have been continuously updated to suit the changing socio-economic times in TT until 2005.

However while this was not done, Imbert said it made no sense crying over split milk and Government believed that the CNTS will lay a solid foundation upon which an effective NTP can be established for TT for the next 20 years. A fundamental advantage which the CNTS has over its NTP predecessor is that the former will involve the building of a demand forecast computer model which will be maintained with up-to-date data and used to predict travel demand as well as compare the effect of different land uses, economic and social policies and development plans on this demand.

Imbert said this model will also facilitate the simulation and viability of alternative transportation strategies and projects. "You should note that this type of quick, reliable and cost-effective comparison of transport solutions is not possible by other methods," he stated. The minister further indicated that unlike the 1967 NTP, the CTNS will simultaneously address concerns in the domestic land, air and sea transportation sectors.

Imbert added that the lesson to be learnt from today’s transportation woes in TT is the invaluable role which planners play in guiding national development. Describing planners as one of the most unappreciated groups in any society, Imbert said TT was no exception to this rule.

"The planners are always telling us about the dire consequences of unplanned development but their warnings are drowned out by the demand for instant, immediate or even magical solutions to our problems, and the temptation to dismiss studies as irrelevant or unnecessary," he stated.

Imbert reiterated to his audience that the CTNS "is not irrelevant or unnecessary, but rather is exceedingly relevant and long overdue." The minister said regardless of whatever projection has been made about the future of TT’s energy reserves or how long the nation’s current economic boom would last, efficient and appropriate transport systems were vital to TT’s long term socio-economic health. Calling for greater cooperation and collaboration amongst the relevant authorities, Imbert declared, "It is expected of us that we will make our best effort to get it right."

In outlining the goals, objectives and deliverables of the CTNS, project coordinator Mahadeo Jagdeo said several options would be explored such as capital improvements to the Piarco and Crown Point International Airports, the establishment of municipal airports or heliports in TT and a viable water taxi service.

Imbert identified the establishment of a $15 billion train-based mass transit system in TT as the most urgent aspect of the CTNS which is engaging Government’s attention at this time.

The minister said Govern-ment would be seeking international expertise to design and build this system and was optimistic that by year’s end, proposals would be invited for the construction of a limited first phase rail system "that will deal with the most viable section of the East-West Corridor."