Ground transport fares climb to compensate for fuel price increases. The Medina administration created the National Institute for Traffic and Ground Transport (Intrant), but the new agency was seen as toothless as ground transporters of cargo and passengers decided unilaterally to raise fares, citing increases in fuel prices. Fares have gone up considerably for urban and interurban passenger routes, despite the Intrant having warned public transport entities these fare increases needed to be authorized by the government.
A report in Diario Libre reveals that fares are up RD$5-RD$30 on the city and inter-city routes that are monopolized by the transporters. Likewise, fares from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana are up RD$40-RD$50.
When Diario Libre reporters asked Intrant, they were told the transport companies have been notified and could face penalties. Intrant spokesman, Viviano de Leon, nevertheless, said that the process requires notifications and a series of procedures established by Ground Transport Law 63-17. De Leon said that these procedures take time to work their way through the system. Furthermore, the law dictates that Intrant has the authority and responsibility to set the fares.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
4 October 2018
