LM&TC looking to decentralise transportation services – Mayor

In an effort to reduce traffic congestion at Central Mackenzie, Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell recently indicated that the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) is working on finding alternative measures to decentralise the locations for public transportation in Linden. She made the revelation during the rolling out of the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Police Division’s Christmas Policing Plan, where numerous issues regarding traffic were brought to the fore.

“As it relates to traffic and traffic congestion, Linden…has grown significantly in terms of vehicles. The Council is working towards, as we said to the drivers…at some point, a decision is going to have to be made that says the one main road and the one central business district of Linden cannot be cluttered with all the transportation services…and all the vendors cannot want to congregate on the one road,” Arrindell disclosed.

The Mayor continued by stating that the Council has already begun the process of removing taxis which occupied the Mackenzie Riverfront area at Co-op Crescent for parking and is having them utilise the Council’s designated park at Republic Avenue. She also pointed to issues currently being experienced by hire car drivers who ply the Georgetown to Linden route.
“There is an issue that is pending, that the hire car licence that is given, and now cars have decided to ply the Georgetown to Linden route. There is no covering under any Ministry that designates those drivers. So, we’re now in the process at the Council with trying to come up with ‘how will Linden operate’ in terms of this new system in place and where do we meet with the Police so we can set up something that is effective and efficient,” Arrindell said.
She added that the first phase of the project has already begun, while the next phase will see the Council’s projection to have the Georgetown park out of the centre of the township.
“…(The Council is looking at) how do we shift them out, so those vehicles themselves do not enter the township to park but come in to drop off, but there’s a different location for them to take up passengers,” Arrindell said, adding that it would take a collaborative effort for everyone to understand the need for what is happening as she stressed that the central area is so congested that there is limited space for people.
The Mayor emphasised that the Council is definitely working on putting systems in place in light of the holidays as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.
She further congratulated the Regional Division and commended the collaboration between the two agencies in working towards order in the township.
“I think the year 2020 brought all that it could bring, but I saw the Police Force stood strong and we really had a wonderful collaboration and we had Linden rising above. Even in relation to COVID-19 and the guidelines that were set,” Arrindell said. (G13)