Category: COVID-19

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company, JUTC, will be operating a reduced service for essential and frontline staff on the weekends of the curfew and during the Easter holiday period. This follows recent adjustments to the curfew hours by the government to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

“Commuters can view the schedules at our website at jutc.gov.jm or they may view the schedules on our Facebook page at Jamaica Urban Transit Company or on Twitter @JUTCLTD. We encourage commuters to familiarize themselves with the schedules. Should our commuters have any query or concerns, they may also call our Customer Care team at 888-588-2287 or our REPORT IT hotline at 876-570-1789,” Mr. Thoms said.

“We are appealing to customers to desist from this practice. Keep your mask on, ensuring that it covers your nose and mouth and wear it for the full length of your journey until you get home. We want you to keep safe and be alive,” Mr.Thoms said.

Commuters are being advised to take note of the following changes in our operations due to an adjustment in the curfew hours beginning at 8:00pm nightly, effective tonight, and ending at 5:00am daily until February 24, 2021. This, following a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases.

Our morning operations will remain unchanged.  However, there will be adjustments to our afternoon peak. Please see below:

1. Last trips will be at 6:30pm for hill routes (52, 53, 54,)
2. All other routes will end at 7:00pm
3. Buses will return to their depots between 8:00pm and 9pm without passengers.

We are encouraging our passengers to adhere to the protocols, by washing their hands frequently, sanitize as often as possible and by wearing a mask. Let us continue to do all we can to minimize the risk of transmission. Keep safe.

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited (JUTC) wishes to set the record straight amidst reports that have surfaced about overcrowding at the Half Way Tree Transport Centre, the Downtown Hub and a number of its Lay-bys. These instances of stranded commuters are being attributed to mismanagement and a shortage of buses.

He noted that the Company is working aggressively to ensuring that outer points that support the Centre provide greater inflows as best as possible to meet demand. However, the absence of dedicated bus lanes, signal prioritization at traffic lights and queue jump lanes means that the cycle times increase with an increase in traffic on the roads. Therefore, while every effort is being made to ameliorate the situation there can be no guarantees in the transit times from the outer points to the Centre.

Meanwhile, he noted that while both gates at the Centre are closed at 5:30pm, there are no restrictions on buses to enter or for passengers, if seats are available. But, from a security standpoint, a decision has to be taken daily to close the gates based on the assessed departure time for the last runs of the day along the various routes. These times are available from the JUTC’s website and other social media platforms.

“We are appealing to passengers to download our last trip departure schedule which is available on our website so that they can better manage their daily commute for the remainder of the curfew, as well as to wear facial masks to protect themselves and other commuters. Also, employers and commuters can help us by better planning their days so that everyone is not in the Centre at the same time standing in long queues” Thoms said.

The management of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited, JUTC, is advising the public that its corporate office located at Twickenham Park, St. Catherine, will be closed today, Tuesday August 25, 2020 and Wednesday August 26, 2020. This, after two additional staff presented with flu-like symptoms who may have had interactions with an employee who yesterday was confirmed as COVID-19 positive.

In addition to that, we are seeking to have the Health Ministry come in to test employees, as well as to help us conduct the necessary contact tracing to mitigate any potential spread. We are not taking this lightly and are doing everything we can to ensure the safety and well-being of our staff and by extension the public at large.

Yesterday, the corporate office was shuttered following the confirmation of a Covid19 case.

All things being equal, we will resume normal operations of our corporate office on Thursday, August 27, 2020.

Please note, that should commuters have any queries or concern re-schedules, they may call our customer service number at 876.948.4240 / 876.570-1789 or visit our website at www.jutc.gov.jm and our social media platforms (@jutcltd) for updates.

Keep safe and remember to wear a mask when using the JUTC.

An employee of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited, JUTC, has tested positive for Covid-19.

The employee who came in contact with someone who had the virus has been in home quarantine since Monday, August 17, 2020 after complaining of not feeling well. The staff member did the Covid-19 test on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 and got back the results today confirming a positive case.

In keeping with our own established protocol, the JUTC this morning suspended administrative operations at its corporate office in Spanish Town. The suspension of operations will allow for deep cleaning and sanitization of buildings.

We are also in touch with representatives of the Ministry of Health.

Please note, that this should not cause any disruption to our transportation services.

Our corporate offices are scheduled to re-open for normal operations tomorrow, August 25, 2020.

We once again urge members of the public to take all the necessary health precautions for their personal safety and that of other commuters and to wear a mask when using public transportation.

Consequent on the announcement of a new curfew that will take effect tomorrow Saturday, August 22, 2020 beginning at 7pm until 5am through to Wednesday, September 2, 2020, the Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited, JUTC, is advising the public that its operating hours will be impacted.

Buses that would normally be dispatched from as early as 4 in the mornings will now be done at 5am. This means the first commute will likely take place at or around 6am. While between 7pm and 8pm buses are to be taken back to their depots without passengers.

We take this opportunity urge passengers to not wait until the last minute to transact business and to be at the bus stop as early as possible, as some routes take up to two hours to complete. We are also encouraging commuters to top up their smartercards to eliminate the use of cash and to wear their masks for the entire length of their journey.

The new curfew will be imposed in Kingston & Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendom and St. Thomas.

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited, JUTC, is advising that in keeping with the Transport Authority’s moratorium, an extension has been granted until May 29, 2020 for the payment of sub-franchise fees. The fees were originally due March 31^st but operators were granted an extension to April 15^th.

We continue to urge operators to be safe and healthy, as well as respect the practices necessary to safeguard their well-being and members of the public.