Better public transport , but not overnight

WHILE ORGANIZED crime investigators  were finishing off their raid on the  offices of his erstwhile advisor, Ramon Fonseca on Wednesday, April 13, President Varela   held  a press conference to announce plans to improve Panama City’s stuttering  public transport  system.

While the promises glittered, they came with a codicil that its implementation will be gradual and the rainbow won’t be fully visible for at least 18 months. The “Public Transportation Stabilization Plan , is intended to provides significant improvements in service  where passenger have endured years of long delays, infrequent service, failed air conditioning and  fading driving standards.

Varela said 700 new drivers would be hired along with 250 new vehicles and the remodeling of the entire current fleet, which has approximately 1,200 buses.

He announced exclusive lanes for buses on trunk routes like Calle 50  and North and South corridors.

The changes also include, salary increases for staff and the creation of  a new license type “J”, exclusively  for the Mi Bus drivers

He said that after completion of the transition phase for the state to assume control of the Panama Mass Transit Company  (Mi  Bus), the Government developed “a plan that will allow substantial improvements in public transport”, to improve the quality of life for  the more than 500,000 users of public transport and 2,983  Mi Bus workers,

Mi Bus CEO Alfonso Penedo, acknowledged that the system, purchased during the previous administration, has failed to satisfy customers.

“The system was sold with a frequency of buses every 15 minutes, but didn’t have the fleet or the plan to do so”, which made the company lose credibility, he said. The company has lost more than 200,000 users  due to faults in the system’s  operation, which forced passengers  to opt for other alternatives, such as pirate operators, taxis or Uber.

Penedo said  that the implementation of the plan will cost over  $90 million  and should be completed in around  a year and a half.

Julio Gonzalez, director of the Transit Authority (ATTT) said the  plan has been well thought out and in the coming weeks changes will be seen  in the system.

He said that with the improvement of public transport, illegal transport will be dealt with.