“Low and slow” passenger flow reported at bus stops

Santo Domingo — Due to the December holidays, it is customary for people to move from some provinces to others to meet with their families, mainly from the National District and Santo Domingo to different locations in the country’s regions.

Little movement is perceived in vehicular traffic in Greater Santo Domingo, and passengers flow to bus stops.

A team from Listin Diario toured the different bus stops that transport passengers to the country’s three regions. The controls and drivers reported passenger mobilization as “low and slow.”

Buses with six to seven passengers on board are the general indications of the carriers.

Some controls indicated there had never been so little movement on these dates since the buses left empty and tried to fill them on the way.

Southwest Region

The bus route to some provinces and municipalities in the southern region, such as Elías Piña, Valle Nuevo, Hondo Valle, and San Juan, has little passenger attendance.

“It’s not like a long time ago when the buses couldn’t cope, it’s not the same anymore, the buses come out empty,” said Ramón Rodríguez, control of the South stop, who says he has been providing the service in the place for approximately 50 years.

Cibao

The route that goes to the municipalities of Nagua, Cotuí, Moca, Salcedo, La Vega, and San Francisco de Macorís also reports a drop in passenger flow.

Darío Mateo, general supervisor of the transport stop, indicated that “this had never happened to us, that the buses leave even empty even after the schedule is completed.”

In addition, he pointed out that one reason for the low passenger circulation is the “lack of money” on the streets.

Eastern Region

Some bus stops heading to the eastern region, such as Higüey, Hato Mayor, El Seibo, and San Pedro de Macorís, indicated that the flow remains “normal,” while others are slow.

Joel Reina, who controls the Higüey stop, indicated that “the flow remains normal as on other days.”

“The capacity of these buses is 80 passengers, and we fill it up to 60 so that they can all leave,” he said.

Juan Antonio, who controls the Hato Mayor stop, pointed out that only eight “empty” buses had left before noon.

“So far (11:30 a.m.) I have dispatched eight buses, all empty. It is not profitable,” he said.

He added that the buses leave every half hour and that he has had to increase their departure time so that they can take passengers.