Government Plans Traffic Light Adjustments to Ease Congestion

Government Plans Traffic Lights Adjustments to Ease Congestion

The government has acknowledged ongoing traffic congestion issues and is moving forward with plans to fix faulty traffic lights, while discussions continue on whether their placement and timing should be reassessed.

During the Post-Cabinet press briefing, Chief of Staff Lionel Hurst confirmed that the first step in addressing congestion will be repairing non-functional traffic lights.

“First, we’re going to fix it with the lights,” Hurst stated.

When asked whether the location or timing of certain traffic lights should be reconsidered, he explained that the current system operates on fixed timers rather than adaptive technology that adjusts based on traffic conditions.

“There’s no sensitive spot that allows the lights through some program to determine how light the traffic is, how heavy it is, and therefore change the sequence or the length of time that it takes a car to make its way across the intersection,” Hurst said.

Instead, the traffic lights operate on pre-set intervals, meaning they do not adjust based on real-time traffic flow. While reassessing timing and placement may be considered in the future, the immediate priority remains repairing malfunctioning lights.

Commuters continue to experience delays at key intersections, and while authorities have not announced any major changes to the traffic light system, further updates are expected as work progresses.

Despite ongoing traffic congestion concerns, the Antigua and Barbuda government has ruled out overhauling the public transport system, maintaining its reliance on the existing private bus network.

Speaking at the Post-Cabinet press briefing, Chief of Staff Lionel Hurst dismissed the idea of creating a government-run public transportation system, arguing that the current privately operated system is sufficient.

“The idea of having it made public is just not so very appealing. Plus, these bus drivers and taxi drivers and so on who transport people into the city, they have established long histories of doing that,” Hurst said.

The government believes that introducing a publicly funded transport system could negatively affect private operators who have long served commuters.

While traffic congestion continues to grow, the government remains focused on other measures, such as fixing traffic lights and exploring alternative transport solutions rather than making public transit a state-run service

The government is continuing its experiment with electric buses, assessing whether they can be a viable alternative to traditional fossil fuel-powered public transportation.

During the Post-Cabinet press briefing, Chief of Staff Lionel Hurst confirmed that the government has been monitoring the performance of electric buses, particularly in terms of cost-efficiency and environmental benefits.

“So far, so good. I don’t think final results are yet in. As soon as they’re in, we’ll share them,” Hurst stated.

Authorities are comparing fuel consumption between electric and conventional buses, assessing which is more cost-effective and sustainable.

“What they do is they measure how much in fuel they have consumed against the electric vehicles which have to be plugged in, say, on a nightly basis. And measure how much electricity they consume in so doing,” Hurst explained.

The shift to electric buses is primarily part of Antigua and Barbuda’s effort to reduce its carbon footprint, but the government has not yet determined whether a full transition will be made. Officials say they will release more conclusive data once the testing phase is complete.

As the government discusses ways to address traffic congestion, concerns are growing over the state of bus stops, with many being damaged, missing, or inadequate for commuters.

Although the government has ruled out a public transport overhaul, broken or absent bus shelters remain a significant issue, particularly for commuters who rely on private buses.

During the Post-Cabinet press briefing, Chief of Staff Lionel Hurst acknowledged that the government is aware of these concerns but did not indicate any immediate plans for upgrading bus stops.

The lack of proper bus shelters has frustrated commuters, especially during bad weather conditions, as they are often left with no protection from the elements while waiting for transportation.

As the government looks to address traffic issues, stakeholders have urged officials to prioritize the repair and installation of modern bus stops, ensuring safer and more comfortable waiting areas for passengers.

For now, no formal commitment has been made, but with public concern rising, there may be future discussions on bus stop infrastructure improvements.

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