In order to strengthen the Públicos system the Commonwealth recently approved Law Number 148 of August 3, 2008. This law was created to transfer the regulatory and operation responsibilities of the transportation services provided by Públicos, Local Taxis, as well as some other private transit service providers, from the Public Service Commission to the DTPW. This means that the DTPW will be the only regulatory agency of public transportation in Puerto Rico. Law Number 5 of February 8, 2009 extended the transition period until January, 2010. By this date the DTPW will be empowered to elaborate and establish plans to enhance public transportation in all the Municipalities. This process presents an opportunity to reverse the trend of Público service decline in most parts of the Island and offer an integrated service to other modes of transportation. Currently, DTPW is working in the development of new regulations and on a Regulation Office that will offer the services to the Público and Local Taxis providers. 2.2.2 In the early history, travels in the Island were made by train and later by interurban buses. Also the mobility was provided by private operators of an extensive público network. Train service ended in the 1950s, interurban bus service essentially ended in the 1990s and público service has been declining in recent years. The automobile displaced both of these modes. However, that portion of the population having no access to automobiles and the elderly people is seriously disadvantaged by the lack of interurban transit service. These people may find the means to make short local trips on foot, by bicycle, or by soliciting rides from friends or family having access to automobiles. Nonetheless, there is the need to provide mobility for longer, more significant trips. If the quality of such service is sufficiently high, it could also offer those with auto access an alternative to auto usage for many interurban trips. An expanded and enhanced público system could be one means of providing this service. Another would involve the reestablishment of an Island wide interurban bus system, which could serve express runs between San Juan and Arecibo through PR-22 and PR-2 and other major destinations. Subsidies would be required to initiate this system and keep it running. Well-furnished motor coaches with frequent and reliable schedules could make this an attractive option to traveling long distances by auto. 2.2.3 The following guidelines were developed to promote public transportation: Provide individual municipal agencies with incentives to develop local transit routes in their urban centers Plan the routes to connect with the existing and proposed transportation systems.
In order to strengthen the Públicos system the Commonwealth recently approved Law Number 148 of August 3, 2008. This law was created to transfer the regulatory and operation responsibilities of the transportation services provided by Públicos, Local Taxis, as well as some other private transit service providers, from the Public Service Commission to the DTPW. This means that the DTPW will be the only regulatory agency of public transportation in Puerto Rico. Law Number 5 of February 8, 2009 extended the transition period until January, 2010. By this date the DTPW will be empowered to elaborate and establish plans to enhance public transportation in all the Municipalities. This process presents an opportunity to reverse the trend of Público service decline in most parts of the Island and offer an integrated service to other modes of transportation. Currently, DTPW is working in the development of new regulations and on a Regulation Office that will offer the services to the Público and Local Taxis providers. 2.2.2 In the early history, travels in the Island were made by train and later by interurban buses. Also the mobility was provided by private operators of an extensive público network. Train service ended in the 1950s, interurban bus service essentially ended in the 1990s and público service has been declining in recent years. The automobile displaced both of these modes. However, that portion of the population having no access to automobiles and the elderly people is seriously disadvantaged by the lack of interurban transit service. These people may find the means to make short local trips on foot, by bicycle, or by soliciting rides from friends or family having access to automobiles. Nonetheless, there is the need to provide mobility for longer, more significant trips. If the quality of such service is sufficiently high, it could also offer those with auto access an alternative to auto usage for many interurban trips. An expanded and enhanced público system could be one means of providing this service. Another would involve the reestablishment of an Island wide interurban bus system, which could serve express runs between San Juan and Arecibo through PR-22 and PR-2 and other major destinations. Subsidies would be required to initiate this system and keep it running. Well-furnished motor coaches with frequent and reliable schedules could make this an attractive option to traveling long distances by auto. 2.2.3 The following guidelines were developed to promote public transportation: Provide individual municipal agencies with incentives to develop local transit routes in their urban centers Plan the routes to connect with the existing and proposed transportation systems.