Plans are back on the cards for a new Fairchild Street Bus Terminal that will incorporate the minibuses and ZRs that operate at the nearby River Terminal. Work is also expected to soon start on the facility at Cheapside.
Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashley made the announcement in Parliament today, saying that a new proposal for the terminal would go before the infrastructure committee of Cabinet “very shortly”.
“The committee under the chairmanship of the member for St Philip West will get a presentation from the ministry in relation to the details of the project,” he said during his introduction of a resolution for $3.7 million to be taken from the Consolidated Fund to supplement the 2013-2014 Estimates for roadworks and renovations and repairs to Government buildings.
There had been a previous proposal for a new facility as a part of the Constitution River Redevelopment Project.
“Taking into account what we intend to do, we also have to incorporate the ZR terminal. Anyone can take a visit across there and see the conditions of that terminal and recognize that there is a need urgently to redevelop and be part of the Fairchild Street Bus Terminal development,” Lashley said.
“The fact is that we have numerous buildings going up there now, some with permission, some without permission, and we are basically and slowly developing what we call a shanty place. We have some stalls operating without proper running water and there is a need to do a total new development and incorporate it into the Fairchild Street Bus Terminal.”The minister said the new development would incorporate small businesses and would provide improved conditions for workers and commuters.
“Shortly we will be also constructing the terminal at Cheapside, what we call the Sea View Terminal, again improving the conditions of the travelling public and, of course, the workers of the Transport Board and workers of those [PSVs],” he added. (DP)
