The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) says it is ready to work with the People's national Movement Government to implement a mass transit system, noting now is the proper time to consider and effectively address Port-of-Spain's needs for such a system and improved mobility.
That was the word yesterday from the IDB's representative to T&T, Tomas Bermudez, who is currently in Washington DC.
Responding to question's posed by the T&T Guardian, via email, Bermudez said once a final decision was made by the new Government, the IDB stood ready to work with the administration "to fully and quickly evaluate its chosen alternative and determine how we can best support the implementation of the project."
Bermudez said after receiving a request recently from the Office of the Prime Minister, the IDB had just begun preparing a study offering various mass transit options for metropolitan Port-of-Spain and its surrounding communities.
"Our transportation options study will be based on the IDB's extensive experience in developing these kinds of projects in other parts of the region, such as bus rapid transit, high-speed rail and subway systems," Bermudez said.
He added the IDB hoped to be able to provide enough technical information and financial data to the Government so as to help it to make a well-informed decision on what it considered to be the most practical and affordable transportation option for the citizens of the Port-of-Spain metropolitan region.
During Monday's national Budget, Finance Minister Colm Imbert announced the implementation of a mass transit system and disclosed that discussions were ongoing with the IDB on having a $10 billion light rail system implemented.
He again announced the plan during a post-Budget analysis, hosted by the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce on Tuesday, saying the IDB had also offered to finance the project.
"They have offered to finance the project and the IDB does not finance projects of this nature unless they are satisfied that they make sense," Imbert told the audience then.
"We are not going to fund the project in the way the Point Fortin Highway was being funded. I don't know if you know the Point Fortin Highway was being funded out of the Consolidated Fund, out of the general revenues and that is why that project is always in trouble because there is just not enough money," he added.
Members of the travelling public are also welcoming a mass transit system but serious concerns have been raised about whether or not the T&T economy can facilitate such a project at this time.
Speaking with the T&T Guardian yesterday, commuter Tristan Edwards, of Talparo, said he believed a light rail system could be very effective in relieving traffic into the capital city, "not to mention having a viable alternative to transportation in the country.
"However, I am concerned about the cost with regards to the present oil prices, of course, but we need to see if this can really be done," Edwards added.
He, however, saw the need for proper consultation. "In-depth consultation is needed with the national public and it needs to be transparent but the idea should not be completely scrapped until all the pros and cons are weighed," he noted.
Dominic Hosein, of San Fernando, said he was all for the project but said there must be a holistic approach.
"We have to ensure that we look at the traffic situation holistically because people are buying cars for buying sake because everyone in the household drives. People here in T&T don't have the mentality of car pooling and using the public transportation system, which is far more reliable than ten to 15 years ago," Hosein said.
He said Government also had to consider seriously whether it could afford such a plan, given the state of the economy.
He asked: "Is now really the time and how do we get it done? Do we have to finish off some of our very mammoth projects and then deal with it? There are so many questions but I do welcome it," Hosein said.
Carapichaima resident Ameel Mohammed said the light rail system was a good long-term idea "but not right now with the state on the economy. The light rail system will ease a lot of traffic but it will always be a cost to the country in terms of maintaining it."
Maxi owners want proper consultation
President of the Association of Maxi-Taxi Drivers of T&T, Eon Hewitt, says he believes strongly the rail system would have a negative impact on the industry.
He also called for dialogue with the Government.
"This was introduced to us seven years ago and our position still stands. We have bought a lot of new vehicles and if this would come it would have a negative impact on us," Hewitt told the T&T Guardian.
"When the Government now was in Opposition then they reached out to us. Now that they are in Government let us see if they would reach out to us again and have proper dialogue," he added.
Also contacted president of the Route 2 Maxi Taxi Association, Linus Phillip, said the People's National Movement (PNM) talked a lot about it on the campaign trail but failed to say whether or not a proper survey was done.
"This could be one man's view or few men's view. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said they would have consultation but listening to the Minister of Finance I would want to believe that their minds are made up so how are we going to have that fair and transparent consultation across the board?
"There needs to be proper consultation then a decision. There are questions over the financial position of the country right now which is a critical factor," Phillip said.
He also asked if the system should come into existence to whom the subsidies would go... "to foreign pockets?"
On average, about 250,000 people commute along the East/West Corridor each day and the average cost is $15 a person return trip. That cost, Phillip said, would be very economical and would remain cheaper when compared to a light rail system ticket.
"People have to be careful what they ask for in this country. That rail line would be running alongside the highway, which would not be convenient for the travelling public, and this is what the Government needs to come out and say.
"That ticket from Arima to Port-of-Spain, one way might cost $10, which is far more than what people are paying today. Our feeder routes from Curepe to Port-of-Spain costs $5," Phillip added.
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In 1846, the railroad covered about 173 kilometres and the trainline ran from Port-of-Spain to Arima, before the railways were extended to Couva in 1880, San Fernando in 1882, followed by Tabaquite, Siparia and Rio Claro.
After the railway closed, government at the time encouraged citizens to begin work in the maxi taxi industry to aid with public transport.