Businessmen call for leadership to ease traffic nightmare

While Panama’s Chamber of Commerce is calling for “leadership” from the Government and the mayor to ease the traffic nightmare, an inter-agency committee has come up with some old stand byes that have  yet to show results.

"We need the ATTT (Transport Authority) and the Mayor's Office to take the leadership to implement the measures that have been proposed by  the chamber," said Jorge García Icaza, president of the chamber's transport committee.

These measures include restricted hours for deliveries, staggered paydays and alternative working hours. Garcia Icaza said that the government needs to take a leadership role in this issue. Earlier the  chamber released a study showing that traffic has cost Panama businesses $26 million in increased expenses.

Meanwhile the inter-agency commission appointed to find ways to mitigate traffic congestion in Panama City has presented recommendations to the government for implementation during the holiday season.

 The commission meeting was attended by delegates from the  ATTT, the Ministry of Public Works, the National Highway Company, the National Police and the Panama Chamber of Commerce.

 One of the measures was to crack down on people parking illegally, which in certain areas significantly reduces the space available to drivers.

 More ATTT officers will be on duty during peak hours to increase the flow of traffic. They will also be on duty around shopping centers, which are busy at this time of year.

Commentators point out that more police officers does not seem to solve the problem and many are seen chatting on the sidewalk as motorists sit fuming. Previous blitzes on illegal parking have produced a first day flurry of tickets, and the problem continues.

The ATTT has warned of traffic jam hell during December.