Minister: Parking meters coming soon

THE introduction of parking meters in the city of Port-of-Spain could soon become reality after years of lobbying for its implementation. Minister of  Works and Transport, Franklyn Khan, yesterday in response to another call from the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA), said the plan for parking meters was on the front burner of the Ministry’s programme. He assured that the Chief Traffic Engineer, Suresh Jogie, was looking into the matter and promised “some action very soon.” The Minister’s comments were made at yesterday’s launch of new parking arrangements for downtown Port-of-Spain at his Ministry.

The Minister said that new solutions to the country’s traffic problems had to be “crafted.” He said the issue could not be solved with merely the introduction of over-passes, like what is being called for at the intersection of the Uriah Butler and Churchill Roosevelt Highways. He pointed out that an over-pass at the intersection would create traffic pile-ups at the El Socorro and Aranguez traffic lights. The Minister said the real issue with the traffic congestion at that intersection, was to get a proper flow from the West to South. He said a new lane was needed from the Grand Bazaar to Chaguanas. The Minister further said that new designs for the intersection will be revealed shortly. The Minister said the country’s infrastructure will need at least $2.5 billion over the next seven years to be improved.

He said the proposal for three major highways — from San Fernando to Point Fortin, which would start at the end of 2005; San Fernando to Princes Town and the extension of the CR Highway to Wallerfield would cost $1.6 billion. The Minister further said creative ideas were needed to develop two other fundamental routes, that is, Matelot to Blanchisseuse and the Western artery from Port-of-Spain to Chaguaramas. Khan said there were three concepts for the latter. They are: a four-lane highway along the Western coastline from the foreshore, Wrightson Road to Chaguaramas; upgrading of the Western Main Road to a highway status, and a route through the mountains from the city to the western peninsula. He said settlements patterns meant there was a need for alternative route planning in the west. He stressed that proper development could not be achieved with only “one way in and one way out.” The Minister also spoke of a possible road from Santa Cruz to the Queen’s Park Savannah, a new lane from Sea Lots to Colville Street, as well as the commissioning of a national comprehensive transportation study.