Cabbies wary of Half-Way Tree Transport Centre plan

Some taxi drivers who terminate in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, have reacted furiously to a proposal from the Transport Authority to route all public passenger vehicles (PPVs) that travel in and out of the St Andrew capital, through the Transport Centre.

If implemented, the proposal, which is currently under consideration, would see taxi and bus operators joining the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses that now operate from the facility. Oneil, a taxi driver who plies the Half-Way Tree to Papine route, has heard of the plans. He does not like them one bit.

"A totally foolishness," he reacted when THE STAR spoke with him in Half-Way Tree yesterday. "If they are going to move us from where we have for ourselves, and they are putting us among the bus, where there is already no space, it doesn't add up," he said.

Willard Hylton, acting managing director at the Transport Authority, said that the transport centre, which was opened in 2007, is currently underutilised. He said the idea is for transport operators to drop off passengers in the centre so that the people can board the buses to continue their journey. Hylton, however, did not say where the taxi and minibus operators would be expected to park or pick up passengers.

"Everybody complains about the congestion, so we have been discussing the idea of routing all of the PPVs through the Transport Centre," Hylton said in an interview with the Jamaica Information Service.

Something sinister at play

The move, he said, would see the relocation of taxis and minibuses off major roadways, travelling through the Centre and exiting on to Eastwood Park Road.

But Oneil is convinced that there is something sinister at play.

"Right now them a try get rid a we as far as me see it, because when we have no space to operate then we will be fed up and want to stop doing taxi work," he reasoned.

Likewise, Marvin, another cabbie, said that diverting the PPVs to the transport centre would mean fewer passengers.

"When everything move to the transport centre, taxi men won't have any say because is the JUTC park and I think some of the passengers just prefer to grab a ready taxi from the road, so naturally less people gonna want to use our service," he said.

Michael, a loaderman, says a change in the arrangements would likely "tek food" out of his mouth.

"A $100 fi load a car in the park, so me nuh know why dem a try take food out a my mouth. That can't work out. Is a con-artiste thing to get rid of us who a try earn a decent bread," said the loaderman of 10 years.

"A this help me and me youth them and stop me from going out there to do wrong things, and them just want to stop this so?" he added.

Ras Adri, a fruit vendor for 15 years, says the move will diminish his sales.

"The whole diversion will also divert the passenger so no one is gonna actually travel through the park, so nothing will sell. It is not like they will even give us a spot at the transport centre to do our legal vending," he said

However, everyone did not look at the proposal with jaundice eyes. Ricky Morris, a taxi operator, said that he would support the relocation plans.

"It's the best thing them ever do because when the bus let off, the people them can just jump right in a me car. I think it is more revenue and more security, so I will feel safer over there," he told THE STAR.