Govt vows unified Mass Transit Authority by March

The government is in the final stages of planning a significant overhaul of the island’s public transport system, merging the State bus company with the transport regulator into a single Mass Transit Authority, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Works Santia Bradshaw confirmed in Parliament on Monday.

Combining the Transport Board and Transport Authority would streamline operations and enhance service reliability, she said. The transition process is well underway, with legislative changes and union consultations set to follow, she added.

A transition team has been established, made up of representatives from the Transport Board, Transport Authority, industrial relations specialists, and public transport experts.

Bradshaw said: “The good news is that initial work has started — we’re looking at how we reorganise both entities, improve structures, and implement the route rationalisation needed to make sure that buses and PSVs are better coordinated.”

The deputy PM noted that the move will require changes to existing transport legislation, including amendments to the Road Traffic Act.

“We are currently revising regulations and drafting new legislation to create the Barbados Mass Transit Authority,” Bradshaw said.

Acknowledging the impact of the transition on workers in the industry, Bradshaw assured that union consultations will begin soon to ensure employees are informed and involved in the process.

“We have completed the job descriptions for the new entity, and our human resources team has developed a framework to present to the unions,” she said. “No transition can happen without engaging the unions first, and we are fortunate to have strong labour representation guiding us.”

Appearing in the well of Parliament as the Estimates hearings centred on the public transport heading, Transport Board CEO Fabian Wharton described the overhaul as a “renaissance” for public transport, revealing that the transition team has completed most of the groundwork.

“We are finalising key documents, with a crucial paper set for review this Thursday,” Wharton said. “By next week, the general transition plan will be submitted to the Permanent Secretary and the Ministry of Transport and Works before it is reviewed by the deputy prime minister and sent to Cabinet for approval.”

The plan is expected to reach Cabinet between March 15 and 30, paving the way for implementation once approved.

While the transition to the Mass Transit Authority is in motion, the government said it is also addressing long-standing concerns about reckless PSV (public service vehicle) drivers.

The transport minister acknowledged that PSV misconduct has been an issue for many years, which, according to her, was exacerbated by previous administrations failing to give the Transport Authority proper enforcement powers. She noted that Transport Authority regulations were introduced in Parliament last October to address this issue.

She said: “For years, drivers were allowed to do as they liked, so we are now working to enforce new rules and shift behaviour.” She confirmed that investigations into PSV misconduct are ongoing, with the public being encouraged to report violations.

“The director of the Transport Authority has reported some improvements in driver behaviour, but if issues persist, we urge the public to come forward so we can act,” she added.

She further noted that as part of the regulatory crackdown, the government has launched a training initiative for PSV drivers to improve customer service, regulatory compliance, and safety awareness.

“We have already sent 50 PSV drivers to the Barbados Community College for training,” Bradshaw said. “We have also conducted sensitisation sessions with PSV owners because in many cases, they are unaware of the actions of their drivers.”

She also noted that mandatory vehicle tracking is being phased in to monitor PSV movements and enforce accountability.

“Some PSVs already have tracking systems, but we intend to make this mandatory. This will allow the Transport Authority to verify complaints and take corrective action where necessary.”

shannamoore@barbadostoday.bb