Radical proposals to address traffic congestion on Bermuda's roads were unveiled by Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown yesterday.

Among the ideas for consideration by both Parliament and Bermuda residents were controversial suggestions to ban all second-hand cars, introduce water taxis, and allow hotels to provide shuttle services to and from the airport.

Not all of the proposals will sit well with both residents and taxi drivers, but Dr. Brown said the aim was to reduce congestion on the roads and provide people with better transport services.

Some 120 proposals have been put forward, but now must be discussed at length. Launching The National Transportation Management Report (NTMR), Dr. Brown said the objectives of the 140-page document were to:

l Develop meaningful transportation choices as alternatives to the car.

Improve transportation options for visitors.

Use the waterways more effectively.

Create active participation in the planning process.

Create an integrated transport system.

He said in 1998, Government initiated a review of transportation in Bermuda, which was named the NTMR and resulted in the formation of the Transportation Planning Team.

A steering committee was then formed, consisting of representatives from the Ministries of Transport, Works and Engineering, and the environment, and the Bermuda Police, which was tasked with developing proposals and producing the report.

And yesterday they released their findings, which included proposals for:

Subsidised minibus services for neighbourhoods not served by buses.

A new ferry dock at the Bermuda International Airport to accommodate private boats and ferries.

A major public transport facility at the junction of Kindley Field Road and St. David's Road.

Ban on second hand cars.

Water taxis.

Airport shuttle services for hotels.

Dedicated van service for the physically challenged.

Phasing out of two-stroke 80cc and 100cc motorcycles, introducing four-stroke instead.

Limiting car ownership, either by establishing a maximum limit for the Island or having incentives for not buying a car.

Dr. Brown said during the course of developing the report, other Government departments and members of the private sector were asked to participate. He said between 1999 and 2001, nine major market research initiatives were conducted, in addition to a number of town hall meetings, traffic surveys and studies.

Dr. Brown said: “The results of the research initiatives were used to develop specific proposals for improving transportation services.

“The use of this research had one objective, to ensure that the proposals would meet the travel needs of residents and visitors.

“The report includes 120 proposals to improve transportation in Bermuda. The public transportation improvements signal a major step forward in providing the community with better access to high quality and frequent public transportation that represents more transport options for our visitors, and a viable alternative to the car for residents.

“One of our objectives is to improve transportation for visitors. The report includes proposals, such as consideration for creation of a limousine-class of service, the provision of water taxis, and allowing hotel operated shuttles to and from the airport. Market research has shown strong support from visitors and hotel operators for these proposals.” And he said the report also made suggestions to improve services operated by the private sector, including offering the Public Transportation Board Ambassador Programme to private sector transport providers, the establishment of service standards, and the implementation of the computerised taxi central dispatching system.

He said public meetings would be held to discuss the report in late February and early March, before it was taken to Parliament and debated.

Dr. Brown added: “As you can tell, the proposals contained in the NTMR are both extensive, and in my opinion, important to the long-term survival of Bermuda as a place to do business, to visit and most importantly, as a quality place to live.

“The NTMR is a dynamic document, in that many of the proposals are already underway, such as the improvements to the ferry system and creating emission standards for new vehicles brought to the Island. I believe we have developed an important report that will help ensure the long-term prosperity of Bermuda.”

But one self-employed taxi driver, who did not wish to be named, last night said he believed some of the proposals would work, and others simply would not.

He said: “I would not be against water taxis, but I think it will be very difficult to make them work. We already have a scheduled ferry service and land taxis, which are available virtually on demand. I think water taxis will be very expensive to operate, and I think it would call for larger numbers of passengers and would only provide occasional trips. Why would you opt for a water taxi when a land taxi can take you door to door.

“I think the airport ferry terminal could work. I think some hotels could make that work very well, those that are on the water, taking people and picking people up from the airport.

“But I think the hotel shuttle services provided by hotels would upset a lot of taxi drivers. I can't see that materialising. We will have hundreds of taxi drivers losing a lot of work. The few people that would gain the work and the gains to the economy would fade in comparison to the losses.

“Taxi drivers are normal people who have families and homes to keep. This would disadvantage them in a big way.”