Port of Spain – By the end of 2005, invitations for proposals for a limited first phase rail system that will deal with the most viable section of the East-West corridor will be made by the government of Trinidad and Tobago, says Minister of Works and Transport, Colm Imbert.
Minister Imbert was speaking at the First Stakeholder Information Briefing for the Comprehensive National Transportation Study (CNTS) seminar held in early August at the Crowne Plaza, Port of Spain.
The Minister agrees with the reintroduction of the railway system in Trinidad and says that this system is just one of the options being considered in the CNTS which started on January 17, 2005.
“The train system that we envisage, will link Diego Martin to Port of Spain, and Port of Spain to Sangre Grande and San Fernando and will cost upwards of TT $15billion and will take some considerable time to complete and commission. In fact, it could take as long as 10 to 15 years”, says Minster Imbert.
The CNTS is an 18 month effort designed to develop a long-range view of national transportation needs and issues. The mission of the project is to develop a 20 year comprehensive transportation plan which comprises an immediate 2 year program, followed by 2 successive 5 year programs and then an 8 year program.
The study is an integrated plan for the land, sea and air sectors and will facilitate economic growth, preserve the environment and contribute to an overall improvement in quality of life for all citizens of Trinidad.
The original National Transportation Plan was conceived in 1967 with a design period of 20 years and it gave rise to virtually every major highway development in the country. Since 1985, there has been no new transportation plan and Trinidad and Tobago is at least 20 years behind time.
According to Minister Imbert, the lessons learnt from the planning experiences of the past have been used to inform the CNTS 2005. It includes building of a Demand Forecast Computer Model, which will be maintained with up-to-date data and used to predict travel demand. It will also compare the effect of different land uses, economic and social policies and development plans on this demand and will be the tool used to compare the viability of alternative transportation strategies and projects.
