PoS traffic plan to begin July 11

It’s going ahead. On July 11, Ariapita Avenue, Wrightson Road and Tragarete Road will all be converted into one-way routes. Port-of-Spain mayor Louis Lee Sing yesterday said final plans were coming together. “It is definite. The one-way arrangement will take effect on July 11. Everything is coming on stream very nicely,” Lee Sing  said.  

Saying he felt excited about the initiative, he said commuters would no longer be frustrated and angry at being faced with heavy traffic every morning and afternoon. He also urged citizens to have an open mind about the plan, insisting it was for the greater good of the country. He added: “We have to start somewhere. We can’t just sit and do nothing and expect the traffic to go away by itself.

“We have to not only improve our human stock but also our society as well, and any change that would benefit the country, we have to be excited for that.” He said from the very onset, consultations were held with Works Minister Jack Warner, the ministry’s technical team, the business community and residents.

Admitting the response was mixed, Lee Sing nevertheless said there was general acceptance of the plan. He said: “We held many talks with all those involved, including the Traffic Management Team from the Ministry of Works. “We also held talks with the Police Service and those discussions also were fruitful. The plan was generally well accepted, and I eagerly anticipate how people will react when it takes effect.”

Asked what would be the outcome if the plan failed, Lee Sing said it would be back to the drawing board. “We then go back and start from scratch again, to come up with another plan. We would have no choice but to return to the drawing board and do something better,” he added.

Transport Minister Devant Maharaj, who also agreed the plan was the only way to ease chronic traffic congestion, said to sit and do nothing was counter-productive.
Maharaj also agreed if the plan failed then another one would have to be implemented.