Ministry of Transport plans include Taxi Commission, waterfront development

THURSDAY, NOV. 8: The Throne Speech identified a number of initiatives that the Ministry of Transport will undertake during this legislative session. I would like to provide more detail on these initiatives, which includes the establishment of a Taxi Commission, providing improved service for Seniors and the physically challenged and the redevelopment of the Hamilton waterfront. I would also like to provide an update on a study that we hope will enable more eco-friendly buses and ferries in the future.

Taxi Commission

In 2011, the Ministry formed the Taxi Commission as a sub-committee of the Public Service Vehicle Licencing Board following the recommendations from the Taxi Authority Review Committee that was subsequently approved by Cabinet. The Taxi Commission, Chaired by Mr. Cromwell Shakir, has members representing taxi owners and operators and dispatching companies. It is our intention to table legislation to establish the Taxi Commission as a statutory body under the Motor Car Act.  Although still in the development stages, the Commission may have the following responsibilities:

Recommend to the Minister how the taxi industry can be improved upon relative to delivery of quality service to the public;

Propose how the taxi industry can create a more efficient and effective dispatching system, including full implementation of the GPS system.  We believe an effective GPS system will not only improve service for the customer but will also benefit individual taxi owners and operators;

Provide recommendations on fares and other legislative changes that may be required;

Propose methods for improving the image of the industry through improved training programmes, a uniform dress code and code of conduct;

Develop a process of handling customer complaints, disciplinary matters, review of applications and other procedural matters unique to the successful operation of a taxi industry; and,

Develop initiatives to improve the efficiency of the industry and lower the cost of business for taxi owners, this includes a group insurance plan, negotiating a discount for items such as parts for their taxis, and other initiatives benefiting those in the taxi profession.

 We believe that the industry has a much greater chance of fostering  meaningful change if they speak as one voice, as compared to the fragmented process that has been in place for many years.

To that end, The Ministry will work with the Attorney General’s Chambers to amend relevant legislation to establish the new Taxi Commission, and to transfer responsibilities of the PSVLB to the Commission.

There are three pieces of legislation that govern taxi operations in Bermuda, including:

The Motor Taxi Regulations 1952.  These regulate taxi rates, number of passengers, signage, notices, drivers’ dress code and conduct, etc.

The Motor Taxi (Taxi Dispatching Service) Regulations 1987; and

The Motor Taxi (Special Permits) Act 1970.

These pieces of legislation will be amended to fall under the new Commission. Once completed, the Taxi Commission will have broader responsibility to represent the interests of taxi owners/operators, taxi drivers and the dispatching services.  The end result is a Commission that will focus on items of interest to the taxi community and the users of their services. This is an industry owned and operated by Bermudians and they have every right to shape its future, in consultation with the Ministry.

Improved Transport for Seniors and the Physically Challenged

It was mentioned in the Throne Speech that the Ministry will be sponsoring sightseeing outings for seniors in elder care facilities.  This in intended for seniors to have fun and informative outings to experience Bermuda as it is today.  I might add that this proposal received a considerable amount of applause when it was announced during the Throne Speech.  Our seniors are an important part of Bermuda and deserve the opportunity in their later years to have full enjoyment of life. We believe they will appreciate seeing Bermuda from end-to-end, and experience first- hand how beautiful and interesting our Island is.

While on the topic of seniors, we have underway a study to determine how to improve transportation for senior citizens.  Although seniors can use public transport for free, many choose to either drive their own car or are driven for hospital appointments, shopping or other activities.  The travel patterns of seniors was outlined in the Report on the Seniors’ Test for Ageing Trends and Services (STATS), which was conducted in 2008 by the then Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation. That report concluded that a majority of seniors did not use buses, ferries, minibuses or taxis as their primary mode of travel.  We believe it is time to revisit the issue of improving transport options for Seniors and will be coordinating with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youth, Families and Sports and Age Concern towards that end.  We are an ageing population, so it is timely that we provide more focus on improving transportation for the senior citizens in our community.

While seniors are an increasingly important part of our transport strategy, we also need to provide more focus on transportation for the physically challenged. 

In 2008, Age Concern launched a series of meetings with stakeholder groups from Government and private and non-profit entities to discuss how transportation for the mobility impaired could be improved.  This resulted in the launch of a Paratransit initiative in April 2009 consisting of representatives from the Cabinet Office, Department of Human Affairs, Ministry of Culture & Social Rehabilitation, Department of Health, Root Cause, Age Concern, the Bermuda Physically Handicapped Association, the Ministry of Tourism and Transport and the National Office for Seniors & the Physically Challenged. 

After a series of meetings, the Paratransit Initiative Strategic Plan was completed in late 2009.  It is our intention to revisit the conclusions of that Report and develop programmes for improving transportation for the physically challenged.  This will require close coordination with the Ministry of Youth, Family and Sports, Age Concern and other groups to develop a strategy.

Hamilton waterfront development

Hamilton Harbour is one of the most beautiful harbours in the world.  The withdrawal of the smaller and older cruise ships from Hamilton, and the demolition of the former number 1 cruise terminal, resulted in a waterfront that is lined with car and bike parking, with poor access for pedestrians.   Earlier this year a series of meetings were conducted with Bermuda First, Government Ministers and technical officers, the Corporation of Hamilton and other groups to discuss the future of the waterfront.  It was concluded that the top priority was to create a transportation hub to improve ferry capacity and streamline the interface between ferries, buses and taxi and minibus tour operators.  It was also concluded that we need to improve information provided to our visitors by having a visitor information centre integrated into, or in close proximity to, the transportation hub. It was also determined that the waterfront experience could be enhanced if more open space and pedestrian areas were provided in the area of the former number 1 terminal.  This will allow for more landscaping, shade and seating for residents and visitors.  Also, additional berthing for tour boats and private vessels could be accommodated along the waterfront.  Implementing these improvements would allow for more activities and events to occur along an improved Hamilton waterfront.  Over the next few months the Ministry will be working with Bermuda First, other Government Ministries, the Corporation of Hamilton and other stakeholder groups to determine the next steps in what we envision will become a world-class, uniquely Bermudian, waterfront experience.  The Ministry will also continue with its on-going efforts to find suitable small ships to berth in Hamilton and St. Georges to avoid having to undertake major improvements to the channel and entrance to the respective Harbours.

The Mini-Bus Industry has continued to expand in recent years and the Public Service Vehicle Licensing Board have made recommendations to the Ministry on amendments to the Motor Car Act to better regulate this growing sector of public transportation. The recommendations included:

reviewing the number and process for issuing permits

Regulating the rates for all minibuses;

Imposing a dress and conduct code for all operators; and

Requiring a topography test for new mini bus operators and those renewing their license.

Eco-friendly buses and ferries

Our buses and ferries currently relay on fossil fuels for their propulsion. Although harmful emissions caused by conventional diesel technology has been dramatically reduced in recent years, new and exciting technological advances have progressed to a point where we believe they have a place in Bermuda…not only on our buses but also the possibility of alternative technologies on our ferry system.  The hybrid technology has progressed to a point where many bus systems, such London, are ordering new hybrid buses.  Electric propulsion systems have progressed where several ferry systems now use this technology in controlled environments, such as lakes.  We will be assembling best practices used at other locations and will prepare a paper on our conclusions and recommendations.  This initiative is part and parcel with the overall objective for reduce our reliance on fossil fuels in the future.

We are committed to finding areas of improved affordability in providing transport to our residents while ensuring public transport is accessible, safe, and a high quality option as public transport for the Island is very important to our infrastructure and quality of life.

This Government has a vision for public transport going forward and the steps we have outlined in this Throne Speech will positively contribute to this path.