$38m for Linstead Transportation Centre

The Transport Authority has signed a $38.2-million contract with Black Brothers Incorporated Limited for the construction of the Linstead Transportation Centre at 23 King Street in the St Catherine town.

The construction work for the centre includes the building of an administrative office, restroom facilities, guardhouses, vending shops, boundary wall and fencing, external walkways and pavement, asphaltic surface dressing for parking areas, electrical and mechanical installation.

Speaking at a brief ceremony held at last week's signing in Linstead, minister of land, water and environment, Robert Pickersgill, who is also member of parliament for the area, said he was happy that the people of Linstead were one step closer to accessing a modern public transportation system. He noted that the construction of the Linstead Transportation Centre would increase access to public transportation services for the over 7,000 residents of Linstead, who use the facility, give 400 public transport operators a centralised terminal facility, provide a more organised public transport system and ease the pressure caused by congestion in the town, particularly during peak hours.

Chairman of the Transport Authority, Norton Hinds is happy at the progress being made on a project he has longed to see come off the ground. He underscored the Transport Authority's commitment to maintaining law and order in the public transportation system and outlined recent achievements in monitoring and enforcement activities in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR).

"The Authority has been making significant strides in its road operations, as during the month of April, 93 special operations were undertaken in the KMTR which resulted in 2, 665 prosecutions and 231 seizures of illegally operated vehicles" said Hinds.

The Transport Authority's Inspectorate operations serve to improve general order in the township, ensure greater compliance with the laws and improve passenger safety.