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$66.3m for 85 new buses
Anna Ramdass aramdass@trinidadexpress.com

Friday, August 28th 2009

CABINET has agreed to spend $66.3 million to purchase 85 new buses for the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC), says Works Minister Colm Imbert.

Imbert disclosed this at yesterday’s post-Cabinet press conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s.

He said 60 of the 85 new buses would be used to strengthen and improve the transport service to rural areas of the country. These buses would have a capacity of 29 and 33 seats.

Imbert explained that the 25 other buses which have a capacity of 49 seats would replace buses which were purchased since 1991.

These 18-year-old buses, he said, are unreliable and costly to maintain.

He added that the acquisition of these new buses would bring the PTSC fleet up to 370, just 30 short of its optimum level, which the Government aims to achieve in future.

Imbert noted that since the PNM was re-elected into Government in 2001 the number of PTSC buses has increased from 80 to 370.

 Comments: $66.3m for 85 new buses
better use that money to inspect bridges Posted: 2009-08-27 7:17:00 PM
Mr. Minister, We as a people might be better off if you use that money to inspect and maintain our bridges.
85 NEW BUSES - 'Woopie Posted: 2009-08-28 01:42:00 AM
Finally the gov't has decided to invest in public transit. $66.3 million to purchase these 85 buses. We have the money for essentials, or at least we should have, so why not go all the way to 400, and not 370. 30 outstanding does not make good business sense. Also, your number of 85 is misleading because 25 would be replacing rundown buses already in service. In reality you are only adding 60 in number. We have spent more money on non-essential stuff, while our public transit - buses, had to wait at the back of the line for whats left over. Instead of investing all those millions or more into the Rapid Transit, take that money and invest in buses instead. Mr. Imbert, what do you mean by "since the PNM was re-electred .....buses has increased from 80 to 370." Was it not the PNM Gov't in the first place that got rid of the train system, ripped up the lines and built roads for cars - look at the traffic pile-ups we are caught in now; and watered down the buses too. So where is this insinuation of yours going ... not in somebody's elses backyard, like a boomerang it is coming right back to the PNM gov't. We still have alert older folks around to remind you of the PNM errors in judgement. Anyhow we cannot look a 'gift horse' in the mouth, as some in the "rural areas" will get another bus or two.
Packing the roads with vehicles. Posted: 2009-08-28 01:35:00 AM
So Mr Imbert there was almost a 4.5 fold in the increase of buses and I notice a possibly similar increase in cars. Now, I pray that you would tackle the traffic congestion.
CNG Power Posted: 2009-08-28 01:59:00 AM
You think the Government would walk their talk and set the example and purchase CNG powered busses this time? I doubt it....
Buses for rural areas Posted: 2009-08-28 06:11:00 AM
I hope that buses will be assigned to the Toco/Matelot since this area is without a service for many many years. Please incluse us this rounds.
New buses .....deplorable roads. Posted: 2009-08-28 07:28:00 AM
Most of the new buses will spend a lot of time in the repair shop, because of the road condition in most rural areas.What is needed are hoover crafts.
how much? Posted: 2009-08-28 08:18:00 AM
how much for one bus? I find that price kind of high. dont you think?
I don't understand Posted: 2009-08-28 07:14:00 AM
Could someone shed some light on this issue please,you mean to tell me that with all that is goin on eg;the hospitals are being flooded out,there aren't enough beds for patients,the nurses are cutting new born babies by 'mistake'and the government that we Trinbagonians have in power are goin to spend $66.3 million dollars for buses because the old ones are too costly?This is getting ridiculous.
Trinis just like to complain or what? Posted: 2009-08-28 3:09:00 PM
As a non-Trini reading Caribbean news it seems to me that Trinis do nothing but complain no matter what good is done. If you all do not like the buses or think they too expensive, send them to us!!!
costly buses Posted: 2009-08-28 10:51:00 AM
So it is going to cost $780,000.00 for one bus - hmmmmm. That is what it will cost if 85 buses are bought and the report indicated that it will be 60 to 85 which means that if they buy less buses they spending more money on one. Now, i am not a mathematician but where all that money really going? That is all i can say. This really is disgusting just to think about. By the way, is this TT dollars or US dollars? What government needs to do is fix the roads in Trinidad and stop scraping and repaving the good roads (i.e the highway). there are other areas that have never been paved and the roads are breaking, just look at the situation in Toco and Laventille. While the buses are needed, i think they need to start prioritizing and not just fixing what in front of their face.

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