By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A Cabinet minister yesterday said a unified busing system will "not be a panacea" for New Providence's transportation woes, as progress continues on this project.

Frankie Campbell, minister of transport and local government, told Tribune Business: "That is not the panacea for the problem of the busing system. There are some aspects that have to be considered.

"At the end of the day some decisions will be made, and some attempts will be made to bring relief to the people who are not getting bus service and are not satisfied, and also to the wider community one way or the other because they share the roads with the bus drivers."

The proposed unification of the public bus system is part of the New Providence Road Improvement Programme (NPRIP), funded by the Inter­-American Development Bank (IDB), which also involved the upgrading of New Providence's road network.

A $530,000 pilot project will demonstrate how the scheme will work, in an effort to boost the island's "economic efficiency and sustainability". The Minnis administration has announced plans to establish a unified busing system - fuelled by smart technology - as part of a plan to improve the transportation network within the Bahamas.

While he could not give a timeframe for the pilot project's launch, Mr Campbell said: "The project itself has not yet started. However, the persons who are responsible for piloting the project are still engaged and they are working towards that end. I could confirm that the people who have taken the responsibility on are still hard at work."