A traffic pileup on the Priority Bus Route yesterday added to the woes of commuters who were forced to use maxi taxis as an alternative mode of transportation due to the industrial action taken by Public Transport Service Corporation drivers. Route Two Maxi Taxi Association PRO Christopher Serrette blamed the situation on a roadblock in Tacarigua and the fact that there were now too many vehicles being given authorisation to use the PBR.
“There are 1,150 authorised maxis on the Bus Route and there are 3,500 private vehicles authorised to use the Bus Route. The problem we have is the traffic jam because of the extra vehicles on the bus route. It defeats the whole design of the Priority Bus Route,” Serrette said. He said an early morning roadblock to check for overcrowded maxis also caused major problems.
“I left home at 7.40 am and reached City Gate at 9.20 am. This is a trip that is supposed to take 40 minutes. This morning Licensing Officers were stopping maxis to see if maxis were over crowded. This kept us back so much,” Serrette said. He said both drivers and commuters were caught unaware on Tuesday when PTSC drivers initially took action and this caused long lines for maxis but said they had made the adjustment by yesterday.
“When the public realised that the bus service would be suspended, there was a glut yesterday (Tuesday) and that is what caused the problem. The travelling community, they noticed what went on yesterday and came out earlier today,” he said. Nabeel Mohammed, a graphic artist from Trincity who works in Port-of-Spain, said he left home later than he usually does to get a maxi yesterday but still met a lot of traffic.
He added: “As late as 8 to 8.30 this morning the Priority Bus Route was near standstill with traffic headed west. Lots of people were just standing by the roadside making calls to their workplaces to let them know they were going to be late. “As soon as I saw the traffic, I knew I was going to spend two or more hours in it. I called my boss, told him I couldn’t make it in and turned back to head home to work from there.”
A woman from St Joseph, who only identified herself as Charlene, said she got little problems to get a maxi. Charlene said she left home around 6.30 am and was able to get a maxi within five minutes of arriving on the PBR at Farm Road, St Joseph.