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Yumul revives mass transit proposal
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Posted on May 12 2008
A lawmaker has revived a proposal to establish mass public transportation in the Commonwealth.
Rep. Ray N. Yumul yesterday pre-filed a bill creating a CNMI Office of Transit Authority within the Governor’s Office.
He said that the rising price of fuel and the proliferation of illegal taxis underscore the need for a public transit system. He added that the Northern Marianas could avail of federal grants for enhancing its transportation system.
“The skyrocketing…price of gasoline is now taking a toll on the average wage earner who have to shoulder the ever increasing cost of utility and fuel for vehicles. Also, in a recently conducted sting operation from the Department of Public Safety April 22nd 2008, the department has arrested 9 in an illegal taxi operation. This illegal taxi activity only reinforces the CNMI’s dire need for cheap and wide-reaching public transportation,” said Yumul, whose other proposal—the gas tax holiday—is pending in legislative committee.
Yumul said the CNMI Public School System for the past years had been receiving grants from the Federal Transit Administration to buy school buses. He said PSS’ bus fleet was to be complete by 2007, so the CNMI should now be able to seek FTA grants without stepping on PSS’ toes.
But in order to apply for the grants, the CNMI must establish an agency that would be charged with establishing and overseeing a transportation system for the commonwealth.
Legislation creating a mass transit system in the CNMI has been proposed or passed by lawmaker several times. But it has never been signed into law.
