Keril Wright, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
MONTEGO BAY'S present school bus system will soon be expanded to include adult passengers by September 1.
Transport and Works Minister Dr. Peter Phillips made the announcement of a new municipal passenger bus system on Saturday at the Rotary Club of Montego Bay's annual installation ceremony.
"The pilot service will operate from Greenwood via Salt Marsh to Montego Bay's City Centre and will utilise four buses which will transport adults and school children simultaneously," he told Rotarians and guests at the Half Moon Hotel.
He said the new system would include the present fleet of school buses and would be expanded to other routes in Montego Bay by March 2001.
"The new operation will be run on a pilot basis to the end of financial year in March 2001, following which it will be extended to other routes on a phased basis," he explained.
According to the Minister, the upcoming bus system should not meet with opposition from the city's taxi operators because they had not voiced objections when he informed them of the plans earlier this year.
In addition to the bus system Dr. Phillips highlighted plans for the problem-plagued North Coast Highway and the South Gully project, the construction of two flyover bridges and road work to ease traffic congestion.
He told the audience that the Government had reached a new agreement with North Coast Highway contractors Bosung Engineers, whereby local contractors would undertake segments of the work to aid in meeting the December 31, 2001 deadline.
"Next Friday I will be back in Montego Bay to sign some nine contract packages for road maintenance in St. James, Trelawny and Hanover," he said.
The flyover bridges, estimated to cost £4.5 million sterling, will be located along the Montego River and adjacent to the North Gully bridge. Work is expected to begin on both bridges later this year.
