We continue importing thousands of new and used vehicles every year, increasing demand for scarce foreign exchange, while placing more pressure on roads that are already congested.
No country can pave its way out of traffic forever. There is only so much land available, and in areas such as Chaguanas and along the Western Main Road, there is little room left for endless highway expansion.
The result is daily gridlock, lost productivity, higher fuel costs, frustrated citizens, and growing concerns from investors who depend on reliable transportation. Instead of focusing solely on more cars, the country should seriously revisit modern rail transport and efficient public transportation systems.
A train network can move thousands of people using far less road space, reduce pressure on foreign exchange, and support long term economic growth. If we ignore the problem, traffic congestion itself may become a deterrent to investment and business expansion in Trinidad and Tobago.
Gordon Laughlin
Westmoorings
