After a week of transit chaos, ATTT boss visits control center

After a week of user protests Roberto Moreno, director of Panama’s transit agency (ATTT), paid a surprise visit to the Mi Bus control center on Friday March 22.

He asked the managers of the company to provide immediate solutions to improve the Metro Bus service.
On the eve of his March 17 flight to the papal inauguration, President Ricardo Martinelli said the sytem would be improved before the week was through. He was followed through the week with “improvement” statements from Minister of the Presidency Roberto Henriquez and calls for patience and look to the future from an ill advised government spokesman who seemed to be unaware of the confusion, and transit passenger anger.
"We need adjustments to benefit the users of the Metro Bus," said the transit boss who until Friday had left the explaining to others
The frequency of buses arriving at stops is an issue that has caused a week of public transit chaos and produced vigorous and angry complaints from users.
"We recognize that there are works of great magnitude being carried out in the capital city and San Miguelito that have caused problems, but we need the company to implement new strategies to help the users," said Moreno.
Mi Bus said it will increase the number of buses in problem areas, such as Plaza 5 de Mayo and 24 de Diciembre.It will also extend hours in problems areas.
Moreno said that the ATTT will audit the company to ensure the measures are enacted.