John Myers Jr., Staff Reporter

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the ICC's Cricket World Cup has urged motorists in the Corporate Area to adjust their schedules ahead of regular times, especially those travelling within the main routes to Sabina Park, to avoid congestion during peak hours on match days.

Major Desmon Brown, head of the LOC's transportation committee, is recommending that parents drop their children off at school at least half an hour earlier than the regular time.

"We have suggested that school starts at 7:30 a.m. We ask that if you drop (your children) before 7:00 a.m. for those match days, then you'll be able to leave the area before the stadium traffic comes," Maj. Brown said.

Alternative routes

For those who travel or have business to conduct in the vicinity of Sabina Park, he is recommending that they tak routes on match days to avoid delays and congestion.

"If you can find a route - let's say you have to go downtown and you normally drive on Marescaux Road - we strongly recommend that you do find another route," he said.

Maj. Brown stressed that "it is a suggestion and ... none of our plans are going to work unless we get the cooperation of everybody".

As it relates to access to businesses within the restricted areas, Maj. Brown has suggested that customers carry out transactions after 10:00 a.m. when most patrons attending matches would be inside the venue.

The LOC has established five car parks in Kingston to accommodate persons attending the matches. However, the lots can only accommodate about 4,000 vehicles so persons are being encouraged to car pool. Approximately 12,000 people are expected to attend the matches at Sabina Park.

"We have structured the parking price to give them a financial incentive to car pool," Major Brown said.

The parks are located at the Urban Development Corporation complex on Ocean Boulevard, downtown Kingston; the Elletson Road Police Station playfield; Up Park Camp by 'Duppy Gate'; the National Stadium and the National Heroes Park.

The parking fees range from $1,000 for a vehicle with up to eight seats; $1,500 for a vehicle with between nine and 15 seats to $2,000 for a vehicle with 16 or more seats, except for Up Park Camp where the fees range from $500 to $1,000 depending on the size of the vehicle.

All occupants, irrespective of the number, will get free shuttle to and from the match venue upon payment of the parking fee, except for Up Park Camp which is a park and walk facility. Those who do not use the parking lots would be required to pay a fee of $200 to ride on the shuttle to and from the match venue.

In the meantime, Jacqueline Darwood, the manager of service planning and network development at the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), said the traffic restrictions would only affect bus routes along South Camp Road and North Street.

"On match days all we can say is that the routes will be modified so all the routes that would have normally gone along South Camp Road between Victoria and Meriam Roads will go (diverted) on Upper Elletson Road and join back Camp Road at the traffic lights," she explained.

Ms. Darwood is however urging commuters in the Corporate Area to brace for delays as a result of the expected increase in traffic on match days.

For persons who will be depending on public transportation to go to the matches, the JUTC will have special services from Portmore and Spanish Town to the nearest point to Sabina Park. This will cost $100 instead of the usual fare of $50.

john.myers@gleanerjm.com