By Damion Mitchell, Staff ReporterTHE INCREASING incidents of mini-bus operators driving through densely populated communities to escape the late afternoon traffic congestion on their assigned routes, has become a bother for the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC).
At Tuesday's Roads and Traffic Meeting at the corporation's Church Street offices in Downtown Kingston, several councillors expressed concern that the activity posed serious safety risks for residents of the affected communities especially children and senior citizens.
Garfield Lee, Councillor for the Mona Division, said the matter had become a sore in areas such as Mona Heights, Gordon Boulevard and Daisy Avenue. "Not only are they (motorists) using them as bypass, but it is a racing situation," he said, while suggesting that the presence of the police personnel would be a deterrent.
HAVOC
Robert Williams (Norbrook), chairman of the KSAC Roads and Traffic Committee said, "The residential communities go through havoc with the minibus drivers." He said, communities such as Goulbourne Drive and Toronto Avenue, off Molynes Road were among those affected.
Councillor Answerd Ramcharan said in the Red Hills, Chancery and Rock Hall areas, the matter of motorists speeding through the communities have continued over a protracted period, despite several appeals to the police to remedy the problems.
Inspector Courtney Coubrie, attached to the Traffic Headquarters, said he was aware of the concerns in several communities excepting those mentioned by the councillors at Tuesday's meeting. He requested that a report be sent to the Traffic Department so that the police could closely monitor the situation. In the meantime, he said he would relate the problems to the hierarchy of the traffic department.
