The Ministry of Transport and Mining has indicated that a sum of $6.4 million will be used to acquire 50 buses to expand the state-owned Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) fleet.

This declaration comes after the Minister of Transport and Mining, Audley Shaw along with Managing Director, JR Wellington Import and Export Limited, Rennie Wellington; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Alwin Hales; and Chief Technical Director (Acting), Dawn Smith Fagan, signed the contract to procure the buses, at the Ministry’s Maxfield Avenue offices in St. Andrew on May 31.

Of the total, 45 will be diesel buses valued at US$5,400,000 while the remaining five will be electric buses valuing US$1,085,000.

These buses are set to be integrated into the existing fleet in an effort to ease the strain on commuters in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region.

In addition, the vehicles are expected to be delivered within six to nine months, commencing in the last quarter of calendar year 2022.

Meanwhile, Minister Shaw alluded that acquiring five electronic vehicles serve as part of the Government’s thrust towards contributing to greener, cleaner, and cheaper transportation.

Minister Shaw also compounded that electro mobility is becoming more important for road transportation as it will reduce air pollution and decrease dependence on foreign oil.  

“The electric buses procured today and to be supplied later in the year will, indeed, have the greatest impact on the environment… and public’s health. There are other savings in oil to be gained, as well as to reduce our carbon footprint in Jamaica and, in turn, reduce the costs for the public transportation sector,” he explained.

In the interim, three charging stations will also be built to power the buses.