Neither the rapid rail proposal of the PNM nor the light rail proposal of the PP will solve T&T’s transportation woes, says Dr Rae Furlonge, traffic and transport engineer.
In fact Furlonge, in an interview with the T&T Guardian, has accused both sides of simply using “sexy terms” to insult the intelligence of the citizens.
Furlonge asked: “Why are we not challenging the politicians?” adding that T&T sorely lacked proper management of the transport system.
It was during the PNM’s political meeting in Four Roads, Diego Martin, on Tuesday night that Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley said the PP Government had intended to construct a billion dollar mass light transit rail system from City Gate in Port-of-Spain to Arima.
However, he said, the project was stopped when ILP political leader Jack Warner left the Government.
Furlonge said some 600,000 people, half from along the East/West Corridor, used public transport during peak hours daily.
He described the rapid rail as a high speed travelling at about 120 miles an hour while the light rail was opposite, going at some 40 miles an hour.
“You don’t solve a traffic problem with a transportation solution. We need to manage our existing system by finding ways to make it more attractive and safe,” Furlonge said, adding there was the absence of an incentive for people to park their cars voluntary and instead use public transport.
Security, Furlonge added, was another fundamental issue to entice people to use public transport as a high proportion of people using public transport were women and children.
He said the increase in the number of cars to 800,000 today was the result of an approach towards car ownership but limited development in the sphere of public transport.
“Where will Government find the funds to operate and maintain the existing and future road system, the proposed train system and the current and future public bus system?” Furlonge asked.
Furlonge has long questioned the effectiveness of rapid rail.
“Rapid rail uses electricity, so what would happen if there is a major power outage as occurred midday for several hours in Port-of-Spain on January 16, 2007?
Rapid rail would be Government-owned so what would happen if either of the unions representing the suppliers of natural gas, or the distribution of electricity, or the workers operating the railway system were to go on an industrial strike; or if the same union represented all three?”
“In addition to poor performance in planning and goal-setting, no government has ever been strong in maintenance and management.
“Will our culture suddenly adjust so that operational costs would be in line with developed countries?” Furlonge had questioned.
Failure to gather data
He said what was also crucial was a proper mapping system of where people were coming from and to where they were going.
“And this is not only for along the East/East Corridor but throughout the country,” he added.
He said with the sudden influx of HDC communities proper transport was also lacking.
“We have HDC houses all over the country but there is transport for the people. And with the advent of these houses there would be ‘PH’ taxis.
“But what we need is to provide proper transport... stops for instance that are easily accessible where people can walk to and from their homes feeling safe,” Furlonge said.
On the fate of maxi taxis should either a rapid rail or light rail materalise Furlonge said only yesterday he got a call from the owner of the yellow-band maxi asking the same thing.
“He was very worried because this is someone’s livelihood,” Furlonge added.
Transport Minister Stephen Cadiz said he agreed with Furlonge, adding that a rapid rail would prove costly and difficult to manage for this country.
“Instead I support a mass transportation system that is properly managed and this is what this Government is doing,” Cadiz added.
He said in some HDC communities it was often difficult for PTSC buses to negotiate along the roads.
“We need a more holistic way where for people in housing developments to have a central area to commute,” Cadiz added.
NO CONSULTATION ON PLANS
A member of the national Maxi Taxi Association (MTA) said there had been no consultation on the PNM’s plan for a rapid rail system.
However, he warned other members would not stand idly by for any system that could threaten the livelihood of some 50,000 voters involved in its sector.
“We heard about the rapid rail announcement from the Opposition Leader who is aspiring to become prime minister.
“But yet no one has met with us. We are the main stakeholders and no one came to us to hear our views on this latest idea and how it might affect us,” he added.
SINGLE MOTHER SPEAKS
Judy, a single mother of two, who lives in Carapo, said she was unwilling to leave her car at home and travel to her Port-of-Spain workplace.
Apart from the “frustration and hustle” she said: “If I have to travel I have to take a taxi from where I live to drop in Arima. Then I have to walk to the maxi taxi stand and that is really stress because there is always plenty people waiting there especially during school time.
“The taxi stand is the same thing. And beside all this the maxi always stopping or dropping short or the taxi driver speeding up the highway or driving on the shoulder of the road. So I do not feel safe.”
She said City Gate or the Arima taxi stand in Port-of-Spain were also lonely at nights which was another deterrent for her using public transport.