Privately-Run Group Proposes Transport Revamp in St Andrew, Barbados, Including Pilot Scheme and Scenic Bus Route

The privately-run public service vehicle (PSV) grouping has put forward sweeping proposals to revamp the transport system, including a pilot scheme to address long-standing bus service issues in St Andrew.

Roy Raphael, chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT), revealed that the organisation has established a working committee to liaise with the Transport Authority and the Transport Board. The committee aims to implement the “St Andrew Bus Transport Project” (SABTP) and merge several underserved neighbouring routes following approval from the Transport Authority.

“We have carefully mapped out how best we can assist [the public] in terms of transportation,” Raphael told Barbados TODAY. “The project will be instituted for six months, after which we will review it with the intention of either continuing or dismantling it.”

The AOPT plans to conduct a walk-through in St Andrew to gather residents’ feedback and refine their approach. But Raphael emphasised that the success of the initiative hinges on cooperation from the regulator and the state-owned bus company.

“We would want to present it to them first, to have a discussion, and I am hoping that we would come to some kind of agreement,” he said.

In addition to addressing St Andrew’s transport woes, which were brought into the spotlight at a recent Parish Speaks town hall meeting with the prime minister, the AOPT has proposed a scenic bus route traversing the island’s north and south.

This initiative aims to encourage more Barbadians to use public transport while enjoying the island’s scenery.

“We are basically saying the bus can leave Fairchild Street, travel onto the north, St John, St Joseph, St Andrew, St Peter and terminate at Speightstown,” Raphael explained.

He suggested that this service could operate every two to three hours, particularly on Sundays, at the standard fare of $3.50.

“That would encourage persons to put down their cars and go for a drive at the rate of the $3.50. So that the family can go for a ride. And I think it would encourage more people to drive in buses, particularly the Transport Board. And we would be happy to complement it, even through our TAP [Transport Augmentation Programme].”

The AOPT chairman also recommended merging certain existing routes to improve efficiency.

“When you look at Holders Hill and Eden Lodge together, you’ve got two buses going each side now, and each of them has got two or three persons. Is it economical or viable? We say no,” Raphael argued.

He highlighted several areas currently lacking dedicated Transport Board services, including Bush Hall, the Ivy, Rendezvous Gardens, and Forde’s Road. Raphael suggested that merging and extending routes could better serve these communities.

The Transport Board ceded these lucrative short-haul routes to urban districts mostly in St Michael, St James and Christ Church to the privately owned route taxis and minibuses in 1992 at the height of the International Monetary Fund-driven structural adjustment programme under the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford administration.

“You can merge both of them together and create one route,” said Raphael. “I am hoping the Transport Authority would accept us. Bush Hall doesn’t have a Bush Hall bus from the Transport Board, the Ivy doesn’t have one, Rendezvous Gardens does not have one, Forde’s Road does not have one; and most times when people want to go home, they have to use other routes. They have to use the Silver Sands route and walk in; probably have to walk up Rendezvous Hill; or they would have to use number 10, which is Silver Hill.”

Under the association’s working committee, member Shelly Inniss will coordinate engagement between the AOPT, the Transport Authority and the Transport Board.

Revealing the AOPT St Andrew proposal has been presented to Transport Minister Santia Bradshaw, “it will be with the Transport Authority and the relevant stakeholders. Just to assure the public that we have carefully mapped out how best we can assist them in terms of the transportation”.

“Also,” he said, “the association will be doing a walk-through at some time, to get information and details from them [St Andrew residents] to see how we can best assist them. This is one of the many projects that we will be looking at.” emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb