Transport Minister Announces 40% Boost in Average Number of Buses in Service Daily

Plagued by bus cancellations due to constant breakdowns, Transport Minister Zane DeSilva announced today that the Department of Public Transportation (DPT) has seen a 40 percent boost in the average number of buses in service daily.

Speaking at a news conference held at the Transport Control Department this morning, Mr DeSilva said ongoing maintenance projects has resulted in the number of buses in use daily has gone up from 40 to 70 and “far fewer cancellations”.

While noting that the DPT has worked “tirelessly” to improve the situation with the addition of new buses and maintenance..

“I am pleased to report that nine new buses have entered the service over the past year and three more buses are scheduled to arrive between September and November this year,” said the Minister.

Fourteen (14) buses were recently given a “midlife refit” to extend their time in service “by a minimum of five years”. And plans for another project to address emissions problems with 16 buses are now underway.

The new buses include “USB charging ports USB charging ports at each passenger seat, onboard CCTV”, and “Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant destination signs”.

“Nine new buses have entered service over the past year, with three more buses due to arrive between September and November.

“In addition to the arrival of new buses, maintenance projects have improved the availability of the current fleet. DPT, with the support of manufacturer MAN, recently completed a mid-life refit on fourteen 2009 series buses to ensure five years of extended service life.

“A further project has now commenced on the sixteen 2014 series buses to address poor emissions and soot. The improved maintenance has resulted in the average, daily in-service count increasing from 50 to 70 buses, which in turn has resulted in fewer service cancellations.”

The school bus service will resume on Monday, September 9th, the day before the start of the new public school year.

On that note, the Minister urged both parents and students “to review the school bus schedule on the Government website, www.gov.bm/bus.

“With the added demand of the school bus service, DPT will continue to keep the public informed of daily cancellations via the Bus Alert page on the Government website, and via e-mail to cancellation notice subscribers,” he said.

On an environmental note, the Minister added: “In keeping with this Government’s commitment to enhance the public bus service and reduce emissions, the Ministry of Tourism and Transport recently issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for low emission, appropriately sized, and accessible buses. We will be considering smaller buses for shorter local routes, as well as electric, diesel and hybrid drivetrains.

“The RFP will close on September 16^th, 2019.”

A hiring drive has also been launched to fill vacancies in operational and technical positions – advertisements were published last week for 15 bus operators.

Roger Todd, the director of the DPT, said the new operators were needed to drive the increased number of buses.

“This compliment will help to ease some of the burden on the overtime,” he said.

And in the heat of the summer season he said the DPT is working on the air conditioning problem with some of the older buses.

In addition to the arrival of new buses, the Minister said: “Maintenance projects have improved the availability of the current fleet. DPT, with the support of manufacturer MAN, recently completed a mid-life refit on fourteen 2009 series buses to ensure five years of extended service life.

‘In keeping with this Government’s commitment to enhance the public bus service and reduce emissions, the Ministry of Tourism and Transport recently issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for low emission, appropriately sized, and accessible buses.

“We will be considering smaller buses for shorter local routes, as well as electric, diesel and hybrid drivetrains. The RFP will close on September 16^th, 2019.”

The Minister concluded: Last but not least, I would like to inform the public that we have launched a recruitment campaign for a variety of Operations and Technical posts within DPT.

“Please visit www.bermudajobboard.bm over the coming weeks to view all advertised positions. We at the Ministry and Department remain committed to “Moving Bermuda with a quality public bus service.”