‘More transport needed for growing economy’

Infrastructural needs must be met in order to keep pace with a growing TT economy,  according to Works and Transport Minister Franklin Khan, who made the comment at the official signing of the National Transportation Study yesterday. At the Ministry of Works and Transport’s administrative building yesterday, the minister said the project was expected to take about 18 months to complete, at a cost of TT$23.9 million. The ceremony was attended by William Anido, vice president of US firm Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade and Douglas Incorporated, who has been contracted to conduct the study with local company Trintoplan. Trintoplan was represented by Ronald Nurse.

Saying that the growth of the economy may “baffle” some people, Khan emphasised the importance of having a system that is equipped to deal with land, sea and air transport. While yesterday’s signing marked the formalisation of one contract, the minister pointed out that there were other projects, the National Physical Development Plan, and another plan to deal with  the water and sewerage system in TT. Speaking on the issue of the mass transit system that has been on the minds of many commuters, Khan said that there was a move to fast track this part of the study during its first six months, and possibly create a preliminary design for the project.

He stressed that the project was one of “intellectual status,” moreso than one of “physical status.” The minister added that as a means of dealing with the local transportation system, the ministry had undertaken projects to open up “deep South,” and have the national highway extended to areas such as Point Fortin, Mayaro and Wallerfield. Khan also said there was to be a lot of “parallel planning” involved in the National Transportation Study, as the ministry would not wait until the 18 months after the project was implemented. While Khan announced these moves, he assured that this was “not intended to brutalise” the people, and added that it was not expected that there would be any dislocation of people due to the construction of highways. Khan hailed the project as a “flagship” one, which would drive the TT transport system in the next two to three decades.