Transport Department to Meet with Bus Operators to Further Discuss Transport Reform

Dian Vasquez

We’ve heard the back and forth between bus operators and the Ministry of Transport on the concerns they both have, as they move towards reforming the public transportation industry. It is a yeoman’s feat by any measure, but it’s the mandate of the ministry. News Five had a chance to speak with Chief Transport Officer, Dian Vasquez to find out how that process is going with the bus operators so far.

Dian Vasquez, Chief Transport Officer

“There is an apparent saturation and there is a need for the modification of schedule, which is some of the major items that we’re currently looking at in this reform. And we will be going countrywide, consulting with these bus operators and continuing the conversation to look at what routes are redundant, what routes would need to be amended, how do we begin improving the efficiency of the industry and providing a better quality of service to the bus operators. For the north, we’ve, we’ve been engaging with these bus companies and they have – many of them, they’ve expressed to us that they will be joining and becoming a cooperative so that they could better manage their schedule or have like a rotational schedule that works. Of course, it’s a very dynamic situation, and it is one that will require extensive consultation to be able to chart a clear path forward. And it is what we are in currently engaging in and what we’re going to do, so, we have a mandate to fulfill and a deadline – a very tight deadline. So we are committed to working with the local operators and we will be going out there, meeting with them one-on-one and listening to their concerns. And together we’ll try to figure out, you know, how can we overcome some of the barriers. Like I tell all operators, as the government, or as the regulator, it is our job to ensure that we create that infrastructure – enabling environment for them to thrive. But we can only do so much. They have to meet us halfway and we’re committed and willing to put in the work and we will be reaching out to our operators north, south, east and west.”