Transit chaos continues as bus passengers wait for hours

Hundreds of passengers in transportation centers across Panama City screamed for more buses as the improved Metro bus plan announced by the government over the weekend failed to deliver on Monday March 18.

Some passenger, mostly in lower income groups has waited as long as three or four hours.
President Ricardo Martinelli who has promised the improvements was in Rome for the inaugural mass where of Pope Francis, who delivered a sermon calling on leaders to pay attention to the needs of the poor.  
Both the authorities and the company had agreed to establish My Bus vehicles at intermediate peak congestion to expedite passenger boarding and have other contingency units.
But the reality was that the strategy did not work in areas such as space May 5, Albrook, San Miguelito and east of the capital said La Prensa, and numerous TV and radio reports
David Ramirez, coordinator of the public transit user group October 23 Ridership Movement said:
“ What has been happening since Friday is horrible ."Logistics has not worked and I have my reservations about this company's experience in the management of mass transit. You cannot cover the sun with your hand and this is a problem that must be corrected as soon as possible."
Minister, of the Presidency Roberto Henriquez, said the Metro Bus was not the total solution of the transportation system but a complement of Metro, a project built from the beginning of the administration and the Government promised to end itin 2013. "The transformation of the transport system is 40% complete,"
The company My Bus reported that 200,000 seat units of Metro Bus are on the streets, as provided by contract with the state to offer the service to 700,000 users in the capital. The Transit Authority (ATTT) said it will continue to take steps to improve the system.
Meanwhile the ruling CD party in the National Assembly on Tuesday, March 19, voted down an opposition bid to call Robert Moreno the newly appointed head of the ATTT to task. His predecessor was summarily fired by President Ricardo Martinelli for incompetence.