COTA eyes six routes for public transport system

Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority special assistant for Public Transportation Alfreda Camacho joins her management staff in last week’s beach cleanup. The group began their cleanup from Micro Beach to Paseo de Marianas, the heart of Garapan’s tourist district. (Jon Perez)

The Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority is looking at six bus routes spread throughout Saipan, once the public transportation system is in full gear.

“Our office is currently in the planning phase for proper implementation to ensure that this service system is practical, efficient, and sustainable. We are really thankful to Gov. [Ralph DLG] Torres for his support of prioritizing public transportation by ensuring the programs and projects of [COTA] move forward in the right direction in a timely manner,” said Alfreda Camacho, special assistant for public transportation.

Camacho said that planning the fixed route system is critical and requires much more than placing buses on roads to pick up and drop off riders.

“We must take into account the present road conditions, acquiring additional rolling stock, and that bus stop infrastructure and signboards meet the federal requirements,” she said, “whether or not each proposed bus stops are accessible, will the timing from one bus stop to another is achievable for the different times of the day and week before they are set in stone in timetables and brochures for announcement and distribution.”

Camacho said that she and COTA’s management have been continuously conducting dry runs of the proposed bus routes, along with configuring the bus fare rates. “As with every new agency implementing something, we do anticipate challenges and obstacles.”

“We stand ready to accept each challenge or obstacle head on. It is with our every effort and intent to provide practical and sustainable solutions for the best interest of this community that we serve with respect to this fixed route public transportation system.”

The first planned bus route (Route 1A and Route 1B) would start at the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., then would go south on Middle Road heading to As Terlaje Hill at the Northern Marianas College. It would continue to Shell Dandan, then turn right to As Lito toward Han Nam Road in Koblerville before working its way back to Beach Road, all the way in front of Hyatt Regency Saipan and back to the hospital.

The bus route would pass several offices, stores, and other commercial establishments, including NMC.

The first bus arrived at the end of last month and Camacho said they plan to add at least three more to serve the CNMI’s growing population. “The bus system is not only for the residents and the community. Tourists and other visitors are more than welcome to use it.”

She said the bus is accessible for people with disabilities and those in wheelchairs. The first bus cost around $140,000 and funded by a grant. COTA was awarded the money by the Department of the Interior-Office of Insular Affairs last year. The planned additional buses will cost between $140,000 to $250,000, depending on the specifications of the bus.

Camacho and COTA’s staff held a cleanup over the weekend where they picked trash from Micro Beach to Paseo de Marianas. “We chose this area because this is where the core route (Route 1A and 1B) will run through. This is the tourist district and [COTA] needs to do our part to help beautify our island, not just our tourists who come visit but for each one of us living here as well.”