IMPROVEMENT AND MORE BUSES FOR JUTC

By: ALPHEA SAUNDERS

Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Michael Henry (2nd right), presents the keys for one of 50 new Jonckeere Volvo buses to Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) Managing Director, Mr. Paul Abrahams (left), at the handing over of the units to the Ministry in Kingston, earlier this year. Also participating in the occasion (from second left) are: Belgian Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Frederic Meurice and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Alwin Hayles.

The Ministry of Transport and Works continues to improve and modernise the service provided by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), by adding new buses to the fleet, in tandem with increased training for personnel.

In January, 50 new Volvo buses were handed over to the Ministry by JR Wellington Import/Export Corp, local agents for Belgian bus-makers, VDL Jonckeere.

 These were the first half of a 100-unit order, aimed at beefing up the public bus service, and supporting the new standards being set by the JUTC.

The units, which cost Euros 251,300 each, have cutting edge GPS tracking devices, and other fleet management security features. They are right-hand driven, air-conditioned and of stainless steel quality, with seating capacity for 53 persons.

Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Michael Henry, said the buses would support the new standards being introduced in the public transportation service. Mr. Henry said it was intended that the overall quality and standard of new buses would speak to the first-class public passenger service that the Government has envisaged for commuters.

Continued Belgian Support

Meanwhile, Belgian Ambassador, His Excellency Frederic Meurice, said there would be continued support for the Jamaican Government and its dynamic policy on public transportation.

"In the future, the rehabilitation project of the JUTC and the plans for a fully functional public transportation system will require additional units. Belgium will certainly be happy, if the Jamaican authorities are willing, to look into the possibility of even more Belgian/Jamaican co-operation in the sector," Mr. Meurice said.

On February 3, some 13 of the newly acquired buses were rolled out on three Corporate Area routes (Spanish Town-Half-Way Tree, Greater Portmore-Half-Way Tree and downtown Kingston-Half-Way Tree via Mountain View, Stanton Terrace and New Kingston), heralding the start of an improved service for commuters.

Corporate Communications Manager at the JUTC, Reginald Allen, told JIS News that the process went smoothly, and that the Ministry was expecting a tremendous improvement in the service in the Corporate Area, with the introduction of the new buses over the next few months.

The limited number introduced into the system on February 3 was due to the warranty specifications of the Belgian suppliers VDL Jonckeere, who had set strict and specific arrangements, stipulating that the drivers must be specifically selected and then trained by Jonckeere's technicians to operate the units.

"Training has started and already 26 drivers have been trained, hence the roll out of 13 buses, which will allow for two shifts to be operated," Mr. Allen explained.

200 More Buses

In September, the Government announced that the JUTC’s fleet would be expanded over the next 14 months, with the acquisition of an additional 200 units from Jonckheere Bus and Coach N.V., at a cost of €67.5 million (J$8.6 billion).

The 200 units, comprising Volvo and VDL models, would have similar features as the previous 100 buses received since the start of the year.

Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Michael Henry (seated), operates a bus driver simulator that was launched at the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI), in Kingston, on March 5. Explaining how the equipment works is Technical Director at Transurb Technirail, Mr. Laurent De Plaen.

The first 40 buses of this batch are to arrive in the island by March 2010, with incremental deliveries thereafter, culminating with the final arrivals in November 2010. The acquisitions are expected to bring the total number of units in the system to close to 500.

Since 1996, Jonckheere has supplied some 374 buses to Jamaica, resulting in an improved public passenger transport service within the Kingston Metropolitan region.

Improving Driving Skills

Complementary to the acquisition of new units, and in seeking to improve the service provided by JUTC crews, the Ministry continued to intensify training for the company’s personnel.

To this end, in March, a state-of-the-art bus driver simulator was installed at the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) at Palisadoes Park in Kingston, to enhance the JUTC’s driver training programme.

The simulator, valued at Euro $1.1 million, is part of a joint project between the Governments of Belgium and Jamaica.

The simulator is the sixth such training device to be installed within the CMI's newly established Land Transportation School. It was designed and constructed by Transurb (Technirail), a world-leading Belgian company in the field of transport technology.

Executive Director of the CMI, Fritz Pinnock, informed that the initial phase would see the training of more than 500 JUTC drivers.  He said it would later be an advanced mandatory testing and certification tool for all public passenger drivers. “The training will aid in defensive driving and minimise the risk of accidents on the roads," he informed.

Advanced Training for Technical Staff

The JUTC is also prioritising proper training of technical staff to maintain the company’s fleet.

Managing Director of the JUTC,. Paul Abrahams, told JIS News that this aspect of training was very important, given the state-of-the-art technology, particularly those in the new JUTC units.

He explained that currently, the JUTC does not have all the necessary in-house expertise to adequately maintain the units. This undertaking, he disclosed, lies within the remit of local transport firm, JR Wellington Import/Export Corporation Limited, local agents for the Belgian firm, Jonckheere Bus and Coach N.V., suppliers of the JUTC's buses.

"We are heavily dependent on them for the support. But, I think it is going to be critical that we endeavour to get our own training done through whatever assistance we get from Jonkheere. There are discussions underway for training to be done. We are looking at setting up a complete mechanical training centre here, where we will have our mechanics being trained by people from Belgium," Mr. Abrahams outlined, adding that this provision would be extended to the drivers.

Safe Service for Students

The JUTC also continued to offer safe travelling options for students in the Corporate Area.  Public Relations Manager for the JUTC Reginal Allen told JIS News that the Transport Centre in Half-Way Tree allows the JUTC to service the needs of the student population in a comprehensive and sustained manner.

"Our arrangements for students are generally comprehensive and in fact, the JUTC offers students the opportunity to travel in an environment where there's no difference between the accommodation for a student and others, except for guidance and a lot more care,” Mr. Allen said.

Jamaica College (JC), students board one of two buses that were assigned by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), to transport students to the Half-Way Tree Transportation Centre after school, as part of a new student bus service, which was launched at the school, on February 2.

The JUTC offers a range of services to suit the needs of every commuter, including express, premium, and the general bus service. Mr. Allen explains that while it is up to the parents to allow their children to travel alone, the JUTC does not have an age limit.

He further notes that riding on the JUTC buses is economical, compared to other modes of transportation. He recommends that parents or guardians purchase a bus pass or a Smart Card for their children.

"It allows parents to make an allocation monthly or weekly, in terms of their children's travel. Just put it on a Smart Card and give it to the child,” he adds.

Cashless System

The JUTC continues to promote its cashless system, as it pushes for increased use of the JUTC Smart Cards.

In September, Mr. Abrahams said a new cashless system had been proposed by VDL, for rollout in the Kingstron Metropolitan Transport Region. VDL is one of the entities comprising the Jonckheere Bus and Coach N.V. Group, which is providing some 200 new buses for the JUTC.

He said that if implemented, the system will go a far way in providing more convenience for commuters, and JUTC staff.

Mr. Abrahams said feasibility is being investigated and an appraisal prepared for presentation to the JUTC's Board of Directors for review. He added that a public education campaign would be crucial in the process.

"We have to alert the public as to the changeover (of the system), the comforts of it... the use of the card. For example, you won't have to send your children with cash to school and worry about them being robbed, or anything like that," he pointed out.

Under this system, which will be operated on the new units that are to begin arriving in March, if persons do not have a Smart Card, they may pay the exact fare into a safety box with a combination that only the key Financial Manager within the JUTC will be able to access.

Drivers will not have access to the funds, and they will simply issue tickets to the passengers. This system is used in many countries, including Japan and Bermuda. Currently, the JUTC operates a system utilising both cash and the Smart Card.

$425 Million Loan Facility

Cabinet in February approved a Government guarantee to secure a $425 million loan facility from the Bank of Nova Scotia, to restructure the current debt obligations of the JUTC.

It was noted that notwithstanding support already received from the Government, the state-run bus company continued to "grapple with cash flow shortfalls," and was unable to meet its debt obligations to RBTT Jamaica Limited, and the Petrocaribe Development Fund, among others.

Finance and Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw (left), shares a light moment with Vice President of the Commerce Bank of Belgium, Mr. Jacques Nyssen, before signing copies of an agreement for the provision of two loans totalling €67.5 million (J$8.6 billion) for the purchase of 200 buses from the Belgian firm, Jonckheere Bus and Coach N.V. for the JUTC. The signing took place at the Ministry’s National Heroes Circle offices, in Kingston, on September 8.

A brief provided by Cabinet stated that the JUTC was operating on an overdraft facility of $520 million at the National Commercial Bank, which expired in February.

Consequent on discussions, which the brief stated the JUTC had with the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, the bus company solicited financial proposals, with a view to restructuring/refinancing these facilities to ease the demands on its cash flow for debt servicing, and reduce the need for financial support from the Government or the Finance Ministry.

Renewal of JUTC Sub-Franchise Licences

Meanwhile, in April, Minister Henry, after consultations with both the Transport Authority and the JUTC, granted a 30-day extension to JUTC sub-franchise holders within the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR), in respect of the deadline for the renewal of their licences.

The extension took effect on March 31, the expiry date for the then existing sub-franch1ise licences. It applied only to JUTC sub-franchise holders in the KMTR, comprised of bus and route taxi operators, and not to any other public passenger vehicle operators. The extension was granted under terms and conditions which included the payment of all outstanding sub-franchise licence fees to the JUTC/Transport Authority.

The half-year licensing period ties in with an ongoing process of rationalisation and assessment of all the public passenger vehicle (PPV) routes within the KMTR. This is being conducted by the JUTC and the Transport Ministry. The initiative is part of the broad multi-modal transport policy being formulated by the Ministry in respect of the overall arrangements for transportation, nationally, including within the KMTR.

Sub-franchising of NTCS Routes

As the December 2 deadline fast approached for the Ezroy Millwood-led National Transport Co-operative Society (NTCS) to wind up its operations, the JUTC on November 16 rolled out phase two of efforts to sub-franchise routes which were serviced by the NTCS.

Phase one applications closed on Thursday, November 12, and Mr. Allen told JIS News that he was pleased with the volume of applications received and assured the public that they are being vetted by a "top level team" from the JUTC, to ensure transparency in the selection process. Under this phase, applications were invited for the following routes: Hellshire in St. Catherine to Half-Way-Tree in Kingston; Hellshire to Downtown Kingston; Rock Hall in Kingston to Chancery Street in Kingston; Above Rocks in Kingston to Downtown; Above Rocks to Constant Spring; Border in Kingston to Downtown; Border to Constant Spring; and Mount Airy in Kingston to Constant Spring.

In phase two (deadline November 20), applications were invited for the following routes: Constant Spring to Downtown in Kingston; Christian Gardens in St. Catherine to Downtown Kingston; Christian Gardens to Half-Way Tree in Kingston; Greater Portmore in St. Catherine to Half-Way Tree; Greater Portmore to Downtown; Golden Spring in Kingston to Downtown; Meadowbrook in Kingston to Downtown; and Havendale in Kingston to Downtown.

According to Mr. Allen, the new arrangement is not for the JUTC to monopolise areas once serviced by the NTCS. He highlighted that, in fact, the request for applications will facilitate existing operators, who are now a part of the NTCS.

"It is largely focussed on facilitating much of the existing operators in a more decent arrangement and much of these criteria should be easily met by existing operators," he pointed out.

The routes advertised under phase one will attract a five-year licensing arrangement, which will be renewable annually. These are routes that the JUTC wants to remain in a sub-franchised situation for an extended period, he stated. The routes under phase two, however, will have a one year licensing arrangement.

Affirming the JUTC's commitment to good customer service, Mr. Allen said:

"What is important is that the commuters who are at the heart of the mandate will be adequately served. The critical thing is to ensure that there is adequate and effective service from December 3 onwards.”