Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Traffic rushing from the Portmore leg of Highway 2000. This was the scene recently when things came to a halt during the morning and traffic backed up for about two kilometres at 8:00. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

Calendar-wise, Summer isn't over yet, but school is definitely back in session.

Despite a few hiccups which tend to occur every term, it's the same old story. Students no longer have the pleasure of sleeping late and then spending the day enjoying the summer sun. Now, it's back into uniform and off to learn new things. The daily commute can be hectic; whether getting ready before mom and dad become too upset that you're taking too long to be ready, catching a ride from a neighbour or taking the sometimes dreaded taxi/bus combination.

For residents of the Portmore municipality, travelling to school this term has a different look to it: a six-lane bridge with a toll plaza. The (so far) most costly part of the Highway 2000 project was greeted with a mixture of open arms and bitter resistance. On one hand, persons saw time and money being saved. Parents got to work sooner; children did not fear being late for school. One the other hand, some saw an unfair price tag for getting home.

TOO MUCH MONEY

Those who oppose the toll quarrel about its cost; a fee of $30 was enough in their opinion. What they got was a $60 fee for Class One vehicles, $100 for Class Two vehicles and $200 for Class Three vehicles. The money factor doesn't just affect those who drive their own vehicles. Public transport commuters have had to face increased fares from executive class buses and chartered taxis. Some taxi men have taken the step to have passengers pay the toll. So hypothetically, a parent who travels with his or her child to the Corporate Area, already paying for both of them, now has to factor in additional costs.

The Portmore Citizens Advisory Committee had originally planned to boycott the toll road for nine days, but on July 9 decided to extend that to two months; returning in September effectively for the start of the new school year. Can't afford to make the little ones late for school. But some have continued their boycott, choosing to rise early and use Mandela Highway which means the children will have.

FAMILY TRAVEL

But long before the toll road, when it was just the causeway, Portmore residents testified to leaving home before 6:00 a.m. to get their children to school and then go work.

As the population grew, it simply meant more cars. At one point, a one-way system was implemented for the bridge; in the mornings between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. heading into Kingston and in the evenings between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. heading back to Portmore. The lines, especially near the cut-off time, were always tremendously long. And, of course, if you happened to be going in the other direction, you would have to take the Mandela Highway.

Simply put, family breakfasts like on television (The Cosby Show, et al) were not the reality for Portmore residents. Half-asleep children were bundled into their parents' vehicles and carried off to school. Most schools start around 7:30 a.m., so the parents end up sitting with the children until more persons begin to arrive. Susan Lummersbyknows what that's all about.

"There was no time to eat at home so whatever I prepared they would have it in the car or when they reach school," she says. The implementation of the toll hasn't changed anything. Breakfast is still mobile and though they get to the Corporate Area a little earlier, that's about the only change.

NO-WIN SITUATION

Like her, some residents who despise the idea and/or the toll feel handcuffed. Don't use the toll road and go back to leaving home after 5:00 a.m. to beat the Mandela rush or bite the bullet and take the shorter journey at a cost. Either way, they feel they lose.

"I am opposed to the fee because I live at the mall," exclaims Jenny Menendez, mother of two, who works at a Corporate Area high school. "If I lived in Greater Portmore, then I wouldn't have a problem with it," she added. She readily admitted that overall, the alternate route is too long but the toll however does not help her particular situation in terms of leaving home later in the morning.

"My younger child goes to school on Spanish Town Road so I have to leave a little earlier because I have that extra stop to make," she explained.

Like many residents, she lobbies for a reduction. She also finds it a little unfair that persons coming from Spanish Town and heading to Kingston (which is a longer journey than hers) are paying $10 less.

Let's not forget the teachers. Before the toll highway, Rebecca Schinkremembers leaving home anywhere between 5:30 a.m. and 5:45 a.m; after 6:00 p.m. was out of the question.

"Now I can leave home at 6:30 a.m. and I get to work around five or 10 minutes after seven," she said. However, she prefers the Mandela route to get home. Despite being able to catch a few extra winks before heading to her St. Andrew job, she is still opposed to the toll.

"The alternative is not an alternative! I really support those people who can afford it (to take the Mandela Highway), but I know I can't," she said. She thinks a toll fee of about $40 would be reasonable; rejecting the claim that the cost to build it aided the setting of the fee.

"Considering the number of persons who will take the toll road, they will get the money back very quickly. Some people use it three or four times a day," she reasoned.

PROS AND CONS

Getting to work and school earlier definitely has its advantages. Workers can get more done in a day and maybe get off work earlier. The children will have the opportunity to do some reading or even a little extra homework in the mornings before the bell rings. And teachers can mentally prepare for another potential stressful day. All this can be achieved because they all get to their learning institutions in good time.

But residents of the third city still feel that it's unfortunate that the only way to do that involves paying what in their minds is a hefty fee.

*Names changed on request