Fares for JUTC Smartercard users to see 50 per cent cut

Beginning April 1, commuters who use a Smartercard to pay their fares on the state-owned Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses will benefit from a 50 per cent reduction in fares.

Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Daryl Vaz, made the disclosure in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, January 30.

He said that a Cabinet note is being prepared for the use of a “completely cashless system” for the proposed reduction in bus fares, effective April 1, 2024.

In addition to the reduced rates, commuters will also receive the added benefit of three free rides, which will apply to both new and existing cardholders.

The use of Smartercards will ultimately aid efficiency and security on the buses.

“We are trying to incentivise them to utilise a cashless system, which is better for everybody because, obviously, it means that the flow of the loading of the buses can move much quicker,” he said.

Effective January 1, there was a reduction in the regular fare on JUTC buses from $100 to $70, with the fare for children moving from $30 to $25, and for pensioners from $40 to $30.

As of April 1, 2024, there will be a further lowering of the regular fare from $70 to $50, from $25 to $20 for children, while the fare for pensioners will be reduced from $30 to $25.

Some 60,000 JUTC passengers in the Kingston Metropolitan Region are expected to benefit from the reduction in bus fares.

The reductions were announced by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr Nigel Clarke, and form part of measures to curtail the impact of the increase in public passenger vehicle fares on the overall inflation rate.

Meanwhile, Minister Vaz said the current fare-collection system, which uses a limited cashless component, will be replaced by a comprehensive cashless scheme.

The fully cashless system will provide the requisite efficiency and revenue protection to cover the entire service, and guard against the difficulties posed by cash-transaction delays and pilferage.

Meanwhile, he said the JUTC is currently in the process of having guard rails installed at the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre, to assist in the orderly loading of commuters to prevent them from being in the path of oncoming vehicles.

Similar provisions are being considered for the Parade bus terminals.

Minister Vaz said the installation of guard rails for commuters will improve safety.

He noted that the Government remains committed to its promise to upgrade the fleet and modernise the operations of the JUTC, by acquiring more units and increasing efficiency, using a combination of electric and natural-gas units.