transportation

Bus drivers start training program

David Mesa/La Prensa

on the job: The government is planning to spend $7.5 million on a program to train 2,500 bus drivers for the Transmóvil program. 1073831

The government will spend $7.5 million for drivers and owners of “diablos rojos” to attend classes being offered by the Autoridad de Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre (ATTT) as part of the Transmóvil program. The agency is hoping to train 2,500 people to work as bus drivers in the proposed public transportation system.

Yesterday, the agency issued the first payments to 84 drivers who began their six-month training program in July.

The delivery of the checks was made at an event involving the director of the ATTT, Heraclio Batista, and Transmóvil Coordinator Leonel Solís. Solís said that the payment recognizes “the sacrifice made by carriers to come here [to train].”

According to the coordinator, drivers from the Veranillo area of San Miguelito were the first to sign up for the courses, which he said was surprising “because it is cited as the most disorganized area in the system.”

Drivers from that area were the most vocal about organizing a strike in June against the Transmóvil program. Mariano González, a union leader from the area, said that 40 of his drivers are receiving training, but that does not mean they would not support a strike against the Transmóvil. “The government sought drivers from Veranillo because it knows that 100 percent of us supported the strike,” he said. González stressed that he hopes the government is not making the payments as part of a compensation package drivers who do not wish to be part of the Transmóvil project. Next week about 100 more drivers will enter the training program.

The classroom training include topics such as human relations, oral communication and personal development. In the practical portions of the training, drivers will practice road safety and preventive mechanics, among other topics. Neither Batista nor Solís provided an update about the purchase of the 420 new buses that will replace the “diablos rojos.” The specifications for that tender were supposed to be ready last month.