Calm greets bus fare hike Calm commuters greeted the implementation of new bus fares in the Corporate Area yesterday. Few people grumbled about having to pay the extra $10 and $20 for bus fares when the Jamaican Urban Transit Company (JUTC) started to collect. Most called the increases fair. "It is reasonable, because everything gone up and things are expensive," Carmen Eccleston, an unemployed woman, said yesterday. "It cost money to keep them on the road." On Thursday, Lieutenant Commander John McFarlane, managing director of the Transport Authority, announced that fare increases were to take effect starting yesterday. A new system has accompanied the new fares, replacing the previous seven-stage (three fare) structure. The Corporate Area has been divided into two zones, costing $20 for travel within any area of each zone and $30 for crossing zones at any point. The JUTC expects to increase its revenue by 70 per cent to 80 per cent, facilitating a salary increase for employees. Yesterday, there was still confusion over the new fares. A woman who boarded a number 47 bus in downtown, Kingston, and asked for a "one stage" ticket was promptly reminded by the conductress that, "no more stage no deh again just zone." This bus plies the Meadowbrook to downtown route. Yesterday bus conductors said most commuters were aware of the new fares, while many passengers asked to make sure how much they should pay. But the transition, the bus operators claimed, was smooth. The Wayfarer electronic system used on the buses were programmed to accept the new fares, so conductors did not have any confusion with collection. There are three buttons on the machines that are pressed for the issue tickets for zone one, zone two and for special fares (children, elderly and disabled). The few commuters who complained about the fare increase said it was out of place when the economic situation in the country was considered. "It rough man, when you have three kids to send to school. For one child it's going to cost close to $500 a week now fi fare alone," said Beverly Dodd. "Them nah raise people pay, them nah raise minimum wage."
|
