Yamashita to lead Mass Transit Pilot Project
Governor Eddie Baza Calvo has appointed Sen. Aline Yamashita to lead the group that will pilot the 24-hour expanded and integrated mass transit program in Tamuning, Tumon, Harmon, and Dededo.
Sen. Yamashita, along with the other members of the Planning Team, now are charged with gathering public input and defining the pilot program:
– How often will buses pick up and drop off riders along what routes and from what bus stops?
– Where can we station two major bus exchange terminals that lead in and out of the visitor and industrial districts?
– Will students ride these buses or will school bus service continue?
– How much will riders pay for day, week, month, and annual passes? Will students and senior citizens have to pay, or will their fares be subsidized using current funding sources for them?
– When will this start?
– What is the financing mechanism?
The pilot mass transit system will have to be ADA-compliant, provide reliable transportation service, be capable of special accommodations, and be able to adapt to expand to islandwide service, should the pilot program succeed.
A diverse planning team assembled
The other members of the planning team include:
– Administrator of the Guam Economic Development Authority
– General Manager of the Guam Regional Transit Authority
– Director of Public Health and Social Services
– Director of Public Works
– Superintendent of Education
– One person invited from the Guam Chamber of Commerce
– One person invited from the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association
Governor Calvo thanks Sen. Yamashita for her leadership and her vision. “Sen. Yamashita has been pushing this agenda on behalf of many of our residents who don’t have a reliable way of getting to work, doctor appointments, and relatives’ homes. I’m very excited about this pilot program and I’m very grateful for the senator’s partnership and leadership to make this happen.”
End of Release