The effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the recent traffic management plan rolled out in heart of San Fernando will be put to the test when school reopens tomorrow, says Mayor Junia Regrello.
On a usual school day, Harris Promenade and connecting streets in the immediate area are a traffic nightmare for commuters, as the area is heavily populated with not only the courts, police stations, businesses, churches and hospitals, but also six schools.
Regrello has been criticised by some for implementing the new plan during the holidays, which he initially said would have remained in effect for two weeks but then extended by another two weeks.
But during the City Corporation’s Statutory Meeting last week, Regrello said the plan would stay in place.
“The real test would come next Monday and intentions of this plan will require the co-operation of all citizens. We must try our best to reign in the many bad habits that are pervasive in our city. Earnest efforts are necessary if we are to bring order to the streets,” he said.
“As drivers and commuters we must all obey road traffic rules and show common courtesy to fellow citizens.”
Contacted on the issue, San Fernando Business Association president Daphne Bartlett, who opposes the plan, said she will speak on the issue this week after school reopens. She, however, said they disagreed with the mayor on a few points—the mayor’s decision to use Short Street to filter traffic onto High Street, relocating the Port-of-Spain taxi stand on the Promenade and leaving the street in front of the Library vacant.
The temporary traffic plan, which was introduced on July 11, saw the repaving of the road, opening of cemetery gates from 7-9 am and 2-6 pm to allow one-way traffic entering north of Paradise Street and exiting on Keate Street; construction of lay-by at eastern end of the promenade, construction of a third lane from Paradise Street to the church and relocation of various taxi stands.