Belize to Introduce Tiered Approach to Public Transportation

Eric Sanchez

The Department of Transport in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank is seeking to modernize the country’s public transportation system.  Currently, the program is in its information dissemination phase. Members of the technical support team made an appearance on Open Your Eyes this morning to detail the phased approach to the modernization undertaking.

Eric Sanchez, Transport Planner, Department of Transport

“Another empirical study shows that more than ninety-eight percent of the bus fleet do not meet all safety requirements as would be necessary. So, we want to pin it there. And, that is the transition point as to what the ministry is saying. Look we need safer buses on the road and better transportation system. As such, we also need comfort to some degree. And, in order to have this comfort we are looking at four tiered approach. We are looking at a premier service that really will be for instance from orange Walk in the morning from six o’clock. You have five runs. Let’s say one of those runs will be a premier service, a higher quality of bus. That will see an increase in fare. But that is for people like you who can afford a little more, the finer things in life. Second to that will be economy one. The economy one is the express bus we currently have. However, that will not see an increase in fare. But, what it does is allow for us to increase the quality of service in terms of the comfort, the efficiency and aesthetics. Second to that, third rather, is the economy two. What economy two is going to see is the regular bus or the current regular bus; however there will be a transition away from the general school buses to more coach type buses to more blue bird type buses. It may look the same but really the comfort is a lot different. Lastly is the regular runs, or the current village runs.”