PRIME MINISTER PORTIA SIMPSON MILLER TOURS HALF WAY TREE TRANSPORT CENTRE

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (3rd from right) listens intently to Mr. Andrew Watt, (left) while she toured the Half Way Tree Transport Centre recently

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller along with Ministers Robert Pickersgill, Peter Phillips, Fenton Ferguson, Richard Azan and other officials toured the Half Way Tree Transport Centre on Monday, July 2, 2007.

Speaking after touring the facility, the Prime Minister noted that the Centre will be a welcome addition to the Half Way Tree landscape and that it will be of great service to the commuters who use it. She said she was looking forward to going back to the Centre on its completion in October to do the official opening.

The Half Way Tree Transport Centre is a state-of-the art facility that is being built at just under 50M Euros.

Ground was broken for the Project in 2005; it consists of 16,600 sq. metres and will accommodate buses on two levels. It also includes a 3rd level terrace for the public and an administrative as well as utilities block. Part of the Centre will contain seventeen commercial shops; four commercial kiosks; two security kiosks and a 900 sq metre terrace capable of accommodating three fast food type outlets.

The Centre is a key component in the process of restructuring the overall transport system in the Kingston Metropolitan Region (KMTR) and will be used as a model for the construction of other transportation centres and provide a catalyst for future urban development.

This will be the major hub for the JUTC and is in fact the "Grand Central" of Kingston. Passengers will be able to use transfers, will be able to terminate long haul routes, for eg; from Portmore/Spanish Town and then within the Centre, connect to areas such as Papine/UWI, August Town, Downtown, Constant Spring etc.

The buses using the Centre will be fitted with Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL), and the Centre will be equipped with Licence Plate Recognition Systems. This will facilitate the updating of an Electric Notice Board advising commuters of the arrival and departure of buses on various routes. To facilitate easy turning into the Centre, the buses will be fitted with light signal control units.

The Centre will be able to accommodate 49 buses at any one time and customers will be able to purchase tickets and SMART Cards on location.