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MARIGOT--The central bus terminal in Marigot on Rue de Hollande was inaugurated Thursday afternoon in the presence of President Aline Hanson, and other elected officials and representatives from bus transport associations on both sides of the island.
The facility, named in honour of retired bus driver Antoine Julien Gumbs, is being used on a daily basis since its completion a few months ago. The 45,000 euro facility financed by the Collectivité was conceived in 2011 under the then Councillor in charge of transportation Daniel Arnel and was expected to be completed in six months but the project got shelved after building began without the proper permits having been applied for.
The structure has a covered seating area, and two entry and exit lanes for buses, one for Dutch-side cross-border buses, and one for French-side internal bus routes. There is a controller's office and public restrooms adjacent to the building.
Territorial Councillor in charge of public transportation Louis Fleming noted the structure is "an important element in the reorganisation of public transport on the French side."
"The building is designed to regulate and control buses on the Northern side," he told the gathering. "It permits bus drivers to offer the public a better service due to the presence of controllers who will supervise departures and make sure buses have their administrative documents in order and valid.
"The Collectivité has done its part and we are depending on you, bus drivers, to make it functional in the best way by respecting the controllers. The rules for the terminal also apply to the Dutch-side buses," he said.
Fleming thanked the French-side bus association for its patience and understanding during the long delay in getting the terminal completed. He also thanked the Collectivité's Technical Services, architect/surveyor Denis Blondin, and Louis-Constant Fleming who allowed his property to be used free of charge until the terminal was completed.
Other remarks were made by President of the French-side bus transportation union Christian Lainez and First Vice-President Guillaume Arnell. Arnell commended Louis Fleming for seeing the project through under difficult circumstances.
President of the Dutch-side bus association Alexis Williams and his colleagues were also present for the ceremony.
Director of Transportation for the Collectivité Marie-Line Hughes Richards said the facility is part of a wider plan to improve bus transportation, install more bus stops, and upgrade buses to include handicapped access etc.
"We want to take this opportunity to remind the public to cooperate with drivers and not beckon them to stop anywhere that's convenient because drivers are authorised only to stop at bus stops," she said. "We also want to make sure that buses reach some of the more isolated interior districts, off the main road."
She added the terminal is a compulsory stop for all buses. Buses coming from the Dutch side on the trans-border route must also be driven by Dutch nationals, she said, and vice-versa for the French-side buses.
Hughes Richards explained because of the small premises Dutch-side buses at busy times will be asked to "stop, drop and go" to make sure all buses can use the terminal, until quotas can be regulated.
"For the French-side buses we want to make a trial of a maximum seven minute wait, after which the bus has to go whether full or not. Controllers are also authorised to prohibit a bus from taking passengers on board if the driver's papers are not in order."
Louis Fleming introduced Antoine Gumbs noting he retired in 2007 after 45 years driving buses without ever having an accident. The plaque showing his name was then unveiled.
