Trinidad and Tobago capital could get taxi lane

Date: 27/7/2012

A taxi lane could be introduced to the Western Main Road in Port-of-Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, in order to help deal with transport concerns.

It comes in the wake of new infrastructure being put in place under the Port-of-Spain traffic management plan, which was released on July 16th, reports Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

A number of complaints have come forward from the general public and the proposed taxi lane, which would run from George Cabral Street to Long Circular Road and then along the Western Main Road, is a response to them.

The idea was put forward by Councillor Cleveland Garcia as a possible solution at a meeting this week and was backed by Louis Lee Sing, Mayor of Port-of-Spain.

He said that the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure was actively considering the proposal, which would also involve parking provisions being made available along the road.

Mr Lee Sing said: "That would leave us with two lanes heading in a westerly direction in the middle of the street.

"That having been done the traffic speed must come down because people will not be able to overtake as they are doing now."

He also made a statement during the meeting which stated that extensive consultations had been undertaken before the traffic management plan had been announced.

These involved collaborating with the ministry and other stakeholders such as representatives from the Taxi Drivers' Association.

After a meeting of the Taxi Drivers' Association yesterday to discuss the plans, its President, Carol Sayers, spoke about the planned taxi lane.

She said: "We are willing to accept the one lane for the taxi, maxi and buses from triggered to St James."

Ms Sayers highlighted that without such a lane being brought in the traffic flow would have to be reverted back to a two-way system on the road.

She cited complaints and concerns from commuters unable to travel by taxi in an efficient manner to work under the new system as the reason for her argument.

Ms Sayers also highlighted the fact that the new system was forcing employees to wait around in the back streets near St James.

She said: "It can’t be right that workers from the food places in the night have to wait on the back street, they are single mothers and
they have to work."

Posted by Nick Anderson

International Transport News and Sustainable Transport News