NP Staff Writer

Friday: 17th February 2023

The Ministry of Transport has recently announced new standards for buses that aim to modernize and upgrade public transportation across Belize. The changes will be implemented in a phased approach, with the goal of fully modernizing public ground transportation by the end of 2024.

One key aspect of the new standards is that they will result in the modernization of the current fleet by an average of 12 years, which should improve the safety and reliability of commuter buses traversing highways and villages. In addition, the Ministry has extended the permit period from two to 10 years, based on the age of the bus, to support operators with the increased economic investment required.

Under the new standards, there will be three different classes of road service permits: Type A for premier buses, which must be no older than 10 years old; Type B for Economy buses, which can be no older than 20 years; and Type C for rural buses, which can be no older than 25 years.

To ensure that operators meet these new standards, the Ministry has outlined a series of full standard operating procedures consisting of a fleet inspection program and upgrades. Operators will be expected to update 50% of their fleet by the end of December 2023 and fully upgrade their entire fleet by the end of 2024. These measures are intended to fully modernize public ground transportation in the country and improve the overall experience for commuters.

It is true that the Ministry's new standards for public transport buses still allow second-hand buses up to 10, 20, and 25 years old, depending on the type of bus. However, it is important to note that the standards also require operators to update and modernize their fleets, with the goal of fully upgrading their entire fleet by a specific time frame.

While the use of second-hand buses may not be ideal, it is often a practical and cost-effective option for some operators. By extending the permit period from two to 10 years, based on the age of the bus, the Ministry is also trying to support operators with the increased economic investment required to modernize their fleets.

With that being said, the new standards also include a fleet inspection program and upgrades, which should ensure that all buses, regardless of age, meet certain safety and reliability standards. In addition, the phased approach to modernizing public ground transportation will help to ensure that the changes are implemented in a manageable way, with the goal of achieving a fully modernized system by the end of 2024.