MoBay mayor renews call for transportation centre to ease congestion

WESTERN BUREAU:

Montego Bay’s Mayor Richard Vernon is renewing his call for the establishment of a modern transportation centre in the city, stressing that such a facility is urgently needed to address chronic traffic congestion and widespread parking issues.

Speaking at Thursday’s monthly meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC), Vernon highlighted the proliferation of illegal taxi stands across the city –a direct consequence, he said, of the absence of a centralised transport hub.

“We have illegal taxi operations that are contributing to traffic congestion in the city. One illegal taxi stand is right in front of the municipal corporation’s door, plus there is another along Market Street, several in the sections immediately close to the Sam Sharpe Square area, and then we have taxi stands that we approve but that are not contributing to the proper flow of traffic,” explained Vernon.

“I take the opportunity to reiterate the call for a transportation centre for the city of Montego Bay, a modern transportation centre that can manage the capacity of the city. It must be one that will help us to eliminate the satellite and illegal taxi stands across the city of Montego Bay and organise transportation in such a way that goods and services can be efficiently moved from the city to the towns and within the city and municipality,” continued Vernon.

He added that discussions had previously been held with Transport Minister Daryl Vaz and emphasised the need to revisit those conversations.

The mayor’s renewed call follows stalled plans dating back to 2022 when then Transport Minister Audley Shaw announced that Montego Bay would receive a new transportation centre, with an expected launch in 2023. However, the project has seen no further development or public discussion since.

Long before that, a proposal was put forward in 2015 for the construction of a multistorey parking facility at the site of the Old Shoe Market in downtown Montego Bay – a plan that similarly failed to materialise.

During the meeting, Vernon also raised concerns about roadworks in the Montpelier area, which forms part of the wider Montego Bay Perimeter Road Project – a major bypass initiative aimed at easing urban traffic congestion.

The mayor said the municipal corporation would be reaching out to the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) for an update on the project’s status.

“The logical argument is that if we repair the roadway and pressure testing is done (on the water pipelines that are being laid), and the lines do not hold up, then the road will be damaged again. We have to do the pressure testing first, and once we are comfortable with it, then we could give the green light for road rehabilitation to continue,” said Vernon.

“We have to ensure that we communicate properly where these projects are concerned or else we face demonstrations and disruption in civic order,” he continued. “I believe it is very important that the municipal corporation is properly updated on the project via JSIF as we have the responsibility to keep the citizenry informed and provided with factual information as that is one of the contributions to the traffic issue.”

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com