Hike in Toll Rates Expected Anytime Now

Portmore Toll plaza (courtesy, Jamaica Gleaner)

The Jamaica Gleaner's headline suggesting a 66% hike in the toll rates sent

immediate jitters down one's spine. What with the current galloping increases

at the gas pumps, consumers cannot take no more even though the spike at

the toll at the Portmore leg of Highway 2000 was anticipated once the appeal

to the Privy Council was lost.

Cabinet accepted a proposal for a hike in toll rates of between 16.6 and 66.6

per cent,with the Spanish Town leg of the toll taking the biggest whack of

66.6% increasing from $60 to $100 for class 1 (motorcars) vehicles.

The Portmore commuters can still count their blessings in that their toll rate

for the class 1 group is going up by a mere $10.00 and this is the first time that

they would experience an increase for that leg of Highway 2000.If the rates

accepted by Cabinet hold, drivers of class 1 vehicles traveling through the

Vineyards Plaza will now pay $230, a $40 hike on what they now pay.

With the hike in gas prices reaching a record high exceeding $86 a litre at some

gas stations, motorists are in a quandary as to how to balance their pocket books.

Living in the suburbs and in the rural parts of the country and having to

commute to Kingston is becoming a real nightmare for most.

During Honourable Mike Henry, Minister of Transport's contribution to the 2008-2009

Sectoral Debate in Gordon House, said there has been a change in the toll policy under

the concession agreement - there will now be an annual review of tariffs by the

developer, instead of the twice-yearly review, with the next possible

review-cum-further increase due in July 2009.

The Government of Jamaica (past and present) has always talked about bringing

back Downtown Kingston to its old glory. Had the talks been put into action over

the years, downtown could be seeing adequate housing solutions and guest houses

that could substitute for the endless commuting, unnecessary energy consumption

and lost productivity. It could help reduce Jamaica's balance of payment, improve

quality of life and even reduce crime and violence in the inner city. A cleaner,

more orderly environment where the richest live side by side with the poorest

of the society could result in better relationship with the Police, less antagonism,

more respect. Won't it be nice to have workers leave their motor vehicles behind

at home and just commute to work in Central Kingston on foot or bicycles?

Don't for a minute think that this is not possible. Government and the private

sector must lead the way.

Jamaicans need to trust each other some more and car-pool to save on energy

and wear and tear on the motor vehicles. If you have not experienced being carried

around in an automobile, and you are not the driver, you ought to give it a try.

I had the mixed fortune of experiencing a motor accident recently and experiencing

having to run to catch the bus, charter a taxi now and then, take the robot taxis,

take the Jamaica Urban Transport Company (JUTC) buses, the JUTC Express,

the Executive bus,bump a ride here and there. While not perfect, the

transportation system being decried by most has come a long way and is a far cry

from what it was 30 years ago when I first came to Jamaica.

I am sold on leaving my car at home at least twice per week to go on

the JUTC buses during the slack period of the day. It is hell during peak hours.

I made some critical observations that should be useful to the

Minister of Transport, and plan to have this available in another blog. Suffice to say

here that the transport service is a social service from the Government of Jamaica

to the Jamaican Taxpayers. It is worse than operating a Non-profit organization

because the latter at least aims to break even.