VISHANNA PHAGOO
The Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) is planning to create "multi-modal complexes" in Trinidad and Tobago as a way to earn more revenue, which its chairman Edwin Gooding says will help reduce the state enterprise's reliance on government funding.
"That complex is going to have spaces for all modes of transport to rent like motorcycles, maxis and taxis," he said, as well as accommodate the bus service.
Gooding shared the vision for transforming the PTSC, which includes electric buses, expanding routes, greater use of technology, domestic tourism and environmentally-friendly practices.
While the plan is not finalised, Gooding said locations identified for the complexes are Tarouba Link Road, San Fernando; Factory Road, Chaguanas; Rio Claro; and Sangster's Hill, Tobago.
Each complex will also have a garage, including charging ports for electric buses, and commercial spaces for business owners to rent. He hopes with the new innovations, the PTSC's satisfied customer rate will increase to 90 per cent (it is currently 69.3 per cent).
Gooding said with this proposal, the PTSC can depend less on the government, since 90 per cent of its funding comes from yearly allocations to cover expenditure which includes: salaries, wages, pension, insurance, security and maintaining buses.
[caption id="attachment_955547" align="alignnone" width="1024"] PTSC chairman Edwin Gooding discusses plans for the state-run transportation company at its administration building, City Gate, Port of Spain.Photo by Angelo Marcelle[/caption]
The company's aim is to become independent, and, in the short term, is working to reduce its government funding to 70 per cent. For the 2021/2022 fiscal year, the Ministry of Works and Transport was allocated over $2 billion, of which the PTSC received an estimated $14.2 million.
Gooding said the complexes will incorporate a "park and ride" initiative for the working public to park their cars at any location and take a bus to and from work, instead of worrying about secured parking.
He said the PTSC is determined to provide more reliable services for commuters with the hope of getting more people to use the service.
The cost of the infrastructure is yet to be determined but the San Fernando location has been assessed and an estimate is being worked out. He said part of the design is to use solar energy to limit electricity use. He hopes the proposal will be approved by the ministry, and, if it so, work can begin this year and be completed in 2023.
Also being worked out is the acquisition of electric buses. In December 2021, Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan had promised to add new electric buses to the PTSC fleet in 2022. He said an initial plan to acquire 300 electric buses had been amended to include a mix of electric and diesel vehicles. At that time Sinanan could not give an estimate of how many of the buses would arrive this year, citing delays owing to the covid19 pandemic.
Gooding told Business Day tenders are to be issued and while costs ar
