Video: New Bus Schedule To Start On March 18
[Updated] Minister of Tourism and Transport Zane DeSilva, BIU President Chris Furbert and DPT officials are holding a press conference this morning [March 11] on the new bus schedule, and we will have additional coverage later on and in the meantime the live video is below.
Update 11.16am: We will have the full statement later on, but as a super simplified summary for now, the Minister announced that March 18th is the new effective date for the new bus schedule.
Update: The live video broadcast has ended, and the 8-minute replay is below
Update 4.18pm: Minister DeSilva said, “We are here today to announce March 18 as the effective date for the Department of Public Transportation’s new bus schedule; and to sign the Memoranda of Understanding between Government and the Bermuda Industrial Union for the Temporary Fifty Bus Schedule and the Rostered Night Work for Bus Operators.
“Before proceeding any further, I must recognize the collaborative efforts of the DPT and the BIU that allows us to come before you now. Mr. Michael DeLeon, Assistant Operations Manager, was instrumental in the development of the new schedule and Mr. Brant Harvey, Driver Trainer, led the Perusal Committee responsible for the final iteration of the rosters. They were supported by a great team and I thank everyone for their efforts.
“I would also like to give special thanks to the Department of Public Transportation Director, Mr. Roger Todd and the President of the BIU, Mr. Chris Furbert, whose efforts have been invaluable in achieving our objectives. I thank you both for strengthening the relationships between the DPT and the BIU as we worked towards formalizing the new 2019 bus schedule and night work agreements.
“I am inspired by the commitment shown by all and thank everyone for their collaboration, hard work, and open communication that allowed us to devise solutions that benefit bus operators, the Bermuda public, and can be sustained with our current fleet of buses.
Director of the Department of Public Transportation Roger Todd said, “The Department of Public Transportation is pleased to advise that the new 2019 bus schedule will commence operation on Monday, March 18.
“A point of clarification: The public bus schedule will be the same all year round, except that, for the purpose of organizing the bus operators’ work shifts, the Winter bus schedule includes school runs and the Summer bus schedule does not.
“The new schedule can be viewed and printed on the official government website. [www.gov.bm/bus] Hard copies of the bus schedule are also available from the various fare media outlets.
“Over the next eighteen months DPT will monitor the performance of the new schedule and make adjustments, where appropriate, to deliver a dependable, quality public bus service.
“The MOU for the temporary fifty-bus schedule speaks to our commitment to continued collaboration as we replenish the aging bus fleet. The agreement provides for regular review of the new bus schedule, work rosters and bus purchases.
“The second MOU defines Night Work for Bus Operators and will provide clarity for the development of future work rosters.
“The introduction of the new fifty-bus schedule will greatly assist with eliminating the daily cancellations that has plagued the bus service in recent years. As additional buses comes online, through new purchases and out of service repairs, we will expand the service on those routes with the greatest demand.
“The Department of Public Transportation is committed to delivering a quality public bus service. I would like to express my appreciation for the hard working team at the DPT, and to the Bermuda Industrial Union and Bermuda Public Service Union for their collaborative support. Working together we will deliver valued improvements to the public bus service.
“I will now invite Mr. Furbert to provide comments on behalf of the Bermuda Industrial Union. Thank you.”
Yay… aren’t they clever, the PLP and BIU figuring out a bus schedule….we’ll done!
Only in Bermuda would this be news! Only in Bermuda would they attention to their incompetence and celebrate!
Clowns all of ‘em.
I agree with you about this being “news”. If I were in their shoes, I’d be so embarrassed to be anywhere near a camera.
March 18th though- so I guess we can still call it a Winter bus schedule
Well March 18 is not even here yet so this could all be a bit premature.
This has taken how many years? Somebody ask both sides that question. Only in Bermuda.
More hot air to make people think there doing something… 13 press conferences to try and roll out ONE bus schedule. Pure brilliance.
Did they say temporary schedule?
The fact that it took 17 years to complete really shows how much of a hindrance the BIU is when it comes to any sort of progress.
How are sleeping at night Furbert when single moms can rely on buses to make it to work or how many school children missed out on school or when somebody loses their job because they can’t make time due to unreliable buses?
17 years, Chris. 17 feckin’ years, Mate.
The P.L.P.have hired a number of consultants, so I think they need to ask the one who has all the answers…..she is wonder woman ..and without her talk show the P.L.P.would be in dire straits.
Who are you talking about!
New bus schedule, just like the old bus schedule but on new paper.
Do the rent-a-crowd background people is every Pee-L-Pee photo shoot get paid per picture??
If I did not laugh I would cry. What a joke this whole thing is.
This where they reduce the scheduled number of buses to make it look like there are fewer cancellations.
Where is the morning Express bus for the western end?
that man can talk.
Checked the website. Why cut out the 615 bus from Dockyard to Hamilton ? People depend on this to make 715-730 to work. Consideration needs to made for them ASAP.
The intellectual capital around that table is stunning! LOL
mugging our tax dollars frum us….I cannot believe their smiling… incompetent boobs!
No matter how many agreements they sign…it won’t matter…they want money…for nuthin…
Aw….. look a new bus schedule…. how prous are they? Pats on the head for each of them and extra milk and cookies
Its amazing how the tail wags the dog. Pathetic bunch of losers. Bda is truly another world.