A nation; rich in tourism products, agri-business with some
light manufacturing and extractive industries, must design and implement
transportation policies that bring the highest levels of efficiencies to the
movement of its people and, as a targeted consequence, its national
productivity. Imagine no waiting around, a known fixed journey time at an
affordable cost, it is possible with a little common sense and abandoning
individual egos for the greater good, transport whenever it is needed,
scheduling to save time, and standardization to reduce operating cost. The
ideal is and requires local zoning policies; properly marked, changed and
policed by regional local government bodies; industrial, commercial and
residential, with privately owned vehicles not allowed on designated routes at
peak times, special rules for cargo vehicles and using small, medium and large
capacity vehicles for public travel in zoned areas.
Banning privately owned vehicles from operating within
industrial parks and at peak times within commercial centers, would see only
small and medium taxis operating without restriction in all zones, with large
buses making long trips. For example, owners of private vehicles must arrange
parking to enter any industrial zone; airport, seaport, hospital, manufacturing
operations, etc. and also to enter commercial centers; cities, towns, malls,
shopping plazas, etc. at peak times. Noting that, private owners can own small
and medium vehicles designated for public transportation. Hence a company can
schedule park and ride services for its staff and customers. Each commercial
center would likely evolve into a transportation hub and similarly, as fuel
stations expanded into the retail sector, so too would malls invite fuel stations.
Synergies start with identifying all needed elements within
and for an efficient transportation network. National policies must regulate
such issues as; vehicle procurement, maintenance and inspection, the training
and certification of vehicle repair technicians, with route management, and
transportation hubs falling under local government.
Strictly enforced rules must govern the procurement of
vehicles designated for and as public transportation. Regulations, as to
standardized models and type to control spare parts cost, engine size to manage
fuel consumption, seating capacity to match zoning laws, and colour
coordination for easy identification. Purchased directly from the vehicle
manufacturer to eliminate third party markup, with maintenance training and
parts supply clauses, incorporated in the purchase agreement, will
significantly reduce cost.
Such highly, manufacturer, trained repair and maintenance
specialists are to be deployed in service stations located in commercial
centers to carryout quarterly inspections for road worthy certificates, and
other at key repair facilities across the nation, will keep the fleet
operational. Specialty gauges, metres and other measuring equipment are to be
provided by the fleet’s manufacturer, at cost, to assist in maintaining vehicle
top performance over the warrantee period and beyond. Body shop repairs must
also be incorporated into the mix, noting that, spare parts availability and
waste recycling or disposal are essential components in the maintenance plan.
Route rules and improvement efforts are and must be ongoing;
to identify future concerns and plan solutions before an issue grows into a
problem. Emergency crews are employed to repair and if necessary, close and
detour movement, and later, with such a wealth of experience, redeploy as route
inspectors, to keep the route free and flowing. All works along routes, needing
short or long term solutions, must be supported by statistical data available
from historical observation studies or cameras along the particular classified
route.
Transport hubs, surrounded by retailers in commercial zones,
will all border industrial and residential zones. Such hubs must and will find
a design solution to offer vehicle storage; parking as a profitable venture to
facilitate privately owned vehicles, whose owners utilize the park and ride
services into industrial zones or into commercial centres during peak hours.
All evidence show that it is the park and ride policy that will balance route
usage, as the cost of parking and the cost of a ride, when compared to fines
and penalties charged for transgressions, will discourage many from owning a
private vehicle, benefiting vehicle rentals.
Funded by the rich to service all in society. Listing a
National Transportation Corporation, which would group the individual service
providers presently owned and operated by Government, on the stock exchange
would allow for the initial raising the funds to implement such essential
strategies.
Rationale
T.A.J & Associates Company Limited uses this occasion to comment on topics that have been covered, both academically and by the mainstream media, to add its opinion and point out investment opportunity, not to invoke any social action.
