BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Police Force’s Traffic Department has kept its word and followed through with the shifting of the College Street Ghaut Bus Stop before the 2009/2010 Carnival Season gets into full swing.
Sometime last month, the Traffic Department informed that owing to complaints from motorists and to its recognition that the then location of the bus stop proved problematic, it would be aking steps towards relocation.
Before the move, the bus stop was located approximately 30-40 feet north of the junction of College Street Ghaut and Cayon Street. And as explained previously by Head of the Traffic Department Inspector Cromwell Henry, the area in which the bus stop was located proved inadequate in accommodating the required two-lane traffic in addition to two queues of onmibuses which line the sides of the road.
After consulting with bus owners and operators who ply to St. Peters bus route, Henry explained that the Traffic Department decided it would be ideal to shift the bus stop a further 30-50 feet to the north.
Henry noted however, that the system, which was in effect prior to the shifting of the bus stop, remains with one change. Busses seeking to take passengers from Basseterre to the St. Peters area are required to queue (facing south) on the eastern side of the road with one omnibus collecting passengers (facing north) on the western side of the road. After the omnibus on the western side of the road would have collected its passengers and commence its journey to the St. Peters area, the omnibus at the front of the queue on the eastern side of the road would take its position and the process would continue. The pre-shift system catered for one omnibus to collect passengers at a time. However, Henry further explained that the post-shift system allows for a total of three busses to queue on the western side of the road to collect passengers.
The Head of the Traffic Department informed that absolutely no parking is allowed in the area where the bus stop was previously located and warned that all rules and regulations for that area would be enforced.
“We intend to strictly enforce the traffic signs that are placed in the area, and that also applies to the private vehicles which may want to park in the area designated for omnibuses. So we are asking the drivers of private vehicles to avoid the areas that are designated for omnibuses as well as the areas that are restricted parking areas. Wherever there is a yellow line, it means there is no parking. We have reinforced it by writing the words ‘No Parking’ on the road in yellow. I think the arrangements are clearly marked on the road and are easy to follow, and once everybody follows the direction of the signs we expect to have an improved flow of traffic in the area.”
Henry expressed thanks to those members of the St. Peters Bus Association who provided assistance prior to and during the relocation process.
“We want to thank Granny and other bus drivers who assisted us in relocating the bus stop and for their valuable recommendations. We hope that they would all cooperate, which is in the best interest of their passengers and the travelling public.”
Today marks five days since the shift was executed.
