The
rapid rail project, an absolute necessity
Trinidad Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
01 28 07
The Government finally appears to be moving full
speed ahead with its proposed rapid rail project,
which now carries a price tag of approximately $7
billion with a completion target slated for 2010.
Aside
from concerns in certain sectors regarding the transparency
issue surrounding the awarding of contracts, almost
everyone is in agreement that the country urgently
needs this mass transportation service.
Last
week, Transport Minister Colm Imbert quite accurately
made the point that the rapid rail is the only system
that can solve the country's troubling transportation
problems.
In
the minister's words, it is obvious that we need
to implement a mass transit system, it is obvious
that we are long over the point where vehicular
transport is going to work and it is obvious that
a rail system is the only system that can solve
our transportation problems.
The
traffic congestion nightmare along the country's
roadways, not only during the so-called rush hours,
but also on Saturdays and Sundays, has become unbearable
and has a negative impact on productivity, not to
mention the increased consumption of gasoline.
Throwing
his support behind the proposed rapid rail project,
the influential Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry
and Commerce president, Ian Welch, indicated that
traffic congestion was a clear symbol of the systematic
decline of the country's infrastructural readiness
to meet new and even existing demands.
Noting
that the rapid rail service definitely would improve
access to schools and jobs, Welch also predicted
that it would provide an opportunity for improved
economic development along the rail lines.
According
to the Government's plan, by the end of February
a contract will be awarded for the design and planning
phase of the project, following which another contract
will be awarded for construction of the facility.
By 2010 the project is expected to be complete from
Curepe to Port of Spain and Curepe to Chaguanas.
Also on the drawing board is the redesigning of
the City Gate transit hub in Port of Spain to accommodate
rail traffic.
The
project may be quite ambitious, but is an absolute
necessity.
Trinidad
Express
Wednesday, January 24th 2007
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