The new director of the Transit and Transport Institute (Intrant), engineer Claudia Franchesca de los Santos has said that recent increases in fares ordered by public transporters in Santiago violate agreements reached with the transporters. The new Intrant has been working closely with the transporters.
The RD$5 raises by the urban transporters in Santiago were followed by others of RD$20, RD$30 and RD$50 by transporters on longer routes in the southern region.
Que Se Dice columnist of Hoy, Claudio Acosta observes the announcements dispute the would-be authority of the new director. The transporters allege that if they wait for Intrant to order increases, they will die of hunger.
More rises could be forthcoming. Conatra transport association spokesman, Antonio Marte has announced more fare increases. He argues that the Intrant can’t impose fares when the government is constantly increasing the price of fuel. He says another solution that would enable the transporters to keep the old prices is for the government to assist the transporters with attractive vehicle purchase plans so these can renovate their fleets.
“Claudia Franchesca de los Santos has the last word after her authority has been challenged by these unilateral increases and is discovering for herself, as the helpless public transport users have already in the past, why the chauffeurs and transporters are called ‘the owners of the country,’” concludes Acosta in his Que Se Dice column.
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Hoy
1 November 2017
