Electric buses for Guam and other planned improvements for mass transit
Mercedes Benz unveiled a new electric car and if all goes to plan on Guam, Guam Regional Transit Authority will also add electric buses and cars to its fleet. I spoke with GRTA Interim Executive Manager Celestin Babauta who shared some of the ways he and his team are working on making mass transit on Guam better.
Guam Regional Transit Authority Interim Executive Manager Celestin Babauta said having 150 buses would make it so riders would only wait about 30 minutes or less at the bus stop.
Babauta acknowledged that riders' wait times are much longer now, an hour or more. He said he's working with Del. Michael San Nicolas on securing federal funding to expand GRTA's fleet. He hopes to add 10 buses around June.
In addition to those efforts, the agency is looking to use $9.5 million of Federal Transit Authority Buses and Bus Facilities funds to buy electric buses and cars, construct charging stations and construct a park-and-ride facility.
Before the electric buses can come, a study must be done.
Babauta said an electrification plan is underway and will be done by the end of the year.
"That will enable us to look at what kind of buses are good for Guam, electric buses, what kind of batteries, what kind of charging stations do we need to build," he said. "We have to plan all these things out."
Customize your ride
Currently, the bus stops on the island are in convenient places and many riders have to trek to get to them, if they don’t hitch a ride to the bus stop. But Babauta said that could change.
GRTA is working on developing an app to allow people to schedule a pick up from their home to a bus stop, he said. This would be for all residents, not just those with disabilities.
"The electric cars that we are going to be buying as part of the $9.5 million, let's say for example you live in Dededo and instead of driving your car to the ( park-and-ride facility) you can schedule your pick up from your house. A car will go out and pick you up and bring you over to park-and-ride and you get on the bus and go," Babauta said.
A good transit system is very important, Babauta said.
A working transit system benefits the environment and the economy, he added.
"We have a lot of people out there who cannot afford to buy a car. Or maybe they have a car but cannot afford to buy gas," he said. "We'll be able to bring people to work. We'll be able to allow people to have more money in their pocket."
Residents wouldn't have to pay for cars and the maintenance costs that come with it, Babauta said, adding that there would also be less of a need for road maintenance with fewer cars on the road.
"When we begin to bring people to work, who are not able to work because of no transportation, they go to work, they earn an income, they pay taxes, they take their check and go to the mall and buy whatever," Babauta said.
Feasibility study
The department also received a $1.9 million grant. Babauta said GRTA, the University of Guam and Uber Routematch will conduct a feasibility study to determine if a mobility on demand transit system is good for Guam. That study will also be made available to other transit agencies in the United States, Babauta said.
"Mobility on demand is a getting to be very popular in the States," Babauta said. "Mobility on demand is an opportunity where riders can download the app, schedule your ride and a van will come by and pick you up within close proximity to your house."
"In addition to fixed route, that can be very helpful for people," he said.
Budget cut
What's not helpful, according to Babauta, is the cut in GRTA's annual budget.
The agency had to do without some $300,000 in fiscal year 2021. And the fiscal year 2022 budget was reduced another $300,000, Babauta said.
"So you tell me where is the support?" Babauta said.
Full support from senators and the administration is needed.
Improved public transportation services will make a difference in people's lives, Babauta said.
Even with the cut to the agency's budget, Babauta's to-do list grows with more plans. He plans on installing cameras in the buses and establishing more bus stops around the island. GRTA hopes to get started on a new five-year transportation plan. The agency is working with Sens. Jose "Pedo" Terlaje and Mary Torres on getting land for the park-and-ride facility. Babauta also said he wants to have an apprenticeship program so the maintenance crew will become journeymen.
GRTA eyeing parking meter program
To generate revenue, Babauta said GRTA inked deals to have companies advertise on the outside of the buses. It's never been done before, he said.
GRTA is also looking to manage public parking, according to Babauta.
"In other words, when you go down to Agana with your car, we may put up parking meters and start charging people," Babauta said. "That's revenue-generating."
One other upgrade for GRTA is a new building that will house their entire operations.
The design for a new Harmon facility is in the works. The design is expected to be done by June. They hope to break ground at the end of this year. The facility will house the agency's maintenance, operation and administration divisions under one roof, Babauta said.
"Under one roof we'll be able to lead and manage transit operations," Babauta said.
There's more too, Babauta said. But those are some of the highlights.
The work is challenging, he said.
"The people who are the most vulnerable people on Guam need transportation to improve their quality of life," Babauta said.
The executive manager was confident that when improvements are made to the local public transportation system, more people would use the service.
In case you missed it: I rode mass transit and wrote about my experience. You can find those posts here and here.
The future of mass transit remains to be seen. Should the upgrades GRTA has in store come to fruition, I think it would be very exciting. Imagine: Guam has a fleet of electric buses and cars for the public and you can schedule a ride to a bus stop and you don't have to wait an hour or more at a bus stop? As a plan, it seems promising.
The end of April signals the end of Earth Month. I'll keep an eye and ear out for more news about mass transit even though Earth Month is over. Aren't we invested in it now? It'd be nice for people to be able to use public transit without waiting for hours. I think we all agree on that.
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Thank you for reading. Write to you again soon.
Cheers,
Jasmine