THE Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority on Thursday announced that it will launch a pilot public transportation project on Rota and Tinian.
In a media statement, Special Assistant for Public Transportation Alfreda Camacho said COTA received grant funding from the Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs for the pilot project for fiscal year 2025.
She said beginning in September 2024, COTA will meet with the mayors of Rota and Tinian to conduct an onsite initial assessment, which will focus on recruiting potential transit operators and evaluating the ADA-accessible vans provided by COTA to each municipality in FY 2021. These vans will undergo a detailed inspection to ensure that they still meet safety and accessibility standards.
The pilot project will mirror the Call-A-Ride Demand Responsive Shared Ride Program established on Saipan over the past decade.
Camacho said the COTA pilot project will “play an essential role in evaluating the efficiency and impact of expanded surface transportation services in the CNMI.”
“We are committed to monitoring the project closely, addressing any challenges, collecting ridership data, and working with community stakeholders to strengthen the service as we strive to make a positive impact in the communities we serve. The overall goal is to ensure that the pilot’s success leads to long-term, sustainable transportation solutions for Rota and Tinian,” she said.
“This pilot project is a key initiative to address the surface transportation needs of Rota and Tinian, and we are committed to working closely with the honorable mayors and local legislative leaders from both islands to ensure its success and sustainability after FY 2025,” Camacho said.
