Belmopan. February 16, 2023.
The Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Transport, committed to the modernization of the public ground transportation in Belize, informs the public of the new standards for public transport buses.
On January 10, 2023, Hon. Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Transport, Sports and Youth, presented to Cabinet the recommended standards to fully modernize the public ground transportation fleet by the end of 2024. The phased approach to this modernization will first focus on omnibuses, followed by busitos and taxis.
The new standards aim to improve and upgrade commuter buses traversing the highways and villages across the country. The Cabinet supported this enhancement that will see the modernization of the current fleet by an average of 12 years. In addition, to support the operators with the increased economic investment required, the permits period was also extended from two to 10 years, based on the bus age.
The new bus classification is summarized as follows:
| Road Service Permit Type | Description | Maximum Age of Bus (years) |
| A | Premier | 10 |
| B | Economy | 20 |
| C | Rural | 25 |
The modernization will include full standard operating procedures consisting of a fleet inspection program and upgrades. Operators are expected to update 50% of their fleet by the end of December 2023 and fully upgrade their entire fleet by the end of 2024.
As the Department of Transport continues to implement its Public Transportation Reform, commuters can expect an enhanced experience with safety and reliability as the main objectives. The operators will benefit from inclusion and security. The department will continue to develop consultations with all key stakeholders to ensure benefits for the entire transportation sector.
Ends
For more information, please contact:
Peter Williams
Deputy Chief Transport Officer
peter.williams@transport.gov.bz
