Above: San Juan (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla has signed a law creating the island’s new Integrated Transport Authority.

The law establishes a single mass transit agency for Puerto Rico, including the merger of Puerto Rico’s Maritime Transportation Authority and the Metropolitan Bus Authority.

It will also see Puerto Rico’s Highway and Transportation Authority transfer its operations, rights, obligations and related assets to the new Integrated Transport Authority.

“The creation of the ATI serves as a spearhead to integrating the existing and future public transport services in Puerto Rico as a means of providing mobility and accessibility to places of residence, employment, trade and other activities in the inner cities and main population centers,” Padilla Garcia said following the signing.

The Governor said the creation of the new authority would “reduce redundancy and complexity in decision-making processes associated with the planning, management and operation of public transport systems.”