AOPT supports flexible route system

Flexible route permits for public service vehicles (PSVs) operators and the creation of new transportation hubs across the island have been put forward as viable and possibly game-changing adjustments that could lead to improvement in the local transport sector.

These views were shared by Chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) Roy Raphael, who spoke to Barbados TODAY in response to comments made by government senator Gregory Nicholls in the Upper House on Wednesday. The attorney-at-law suggested in the Senate  that the current process of assigning routes to privately-owned PSVs should change into a flexible route system.

Raphael, who said he could not speak for all PSV owners, admitted there was some merit in such a move.

“Similarly to TAP – Transport Augmentation Programme –  it would mean that everybody would get an opportunity to work the better route and the ones that are not too saturated. Everybody would get a piece of the pie, but understand once a route is lucrative, everybody will want to get on board and it will cause the route to be saturated.

“It would be the responsibility of the Mass Transit Authority to regulate and to allow those persons to work based on the need and the capacity of the route. As an owner I agree to it, but I can’t speak on behalf of all owners, but I think it is something very workable” he explained.

Speaking during the debate on the Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Senator Nicholls also suggested that if permits issued allowed drivers to be flexible to operate several routes, new transport exchange hubs could be created.

Raphael noted that while the hubs would improve the mass transit times for passengers who would be able to make free transfers using these exchange sites, a feasibility study would first need to be conducted to determine their viability.

“A feasibility study needs to be first done, because obviously if you move my vehicle from Silver Sands and you place the vehicle to operate from St George to Speightstown, the first couple of months it will not be viable. Once people know that there is a bus travelling from Speightstown to St George, they will take the bus.

“The Transport Authority would have to have a conversation with the PSV organisations out there to see what is best for their members.”    

The AOPT also suggested that a separate court system be created to help better manage the punishments dealt out to wayward PSV operators.

“We were calling as an association for private counsel to deal with complaints relating to public service vehicles – a separate court or an arrangement similar to a public counsel. We are of the view that although the Transport Authority has been given the powers to revoke permits and also take away people’s licences, they may not have the necessary legal background or the know-how to deal with a situation as it relates to revoking permits.”

He added: “What authority does the Transport Authority have to make someone come to a hearing when they don’t want to? Under the public counsel, you would mandate it by law because public counsel would be treated as a court.” (SB) ]]>