Transportation in Trinidad and Tobago
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Public Transportation is provided by a government run bus service (known as the Public Transport Service Commission or PTSC), privately owned mini-buses (locally known as maxi-taxis) as well as privately owned cars. Maxi-taxis and some cars carry passengers along fixed routes for a fixed fare, although cars are slightly more expensive for similar routes carried by maxi-taxis because of their much smaller passenger capacities. Travellers can also negotiate with car taxi drivers to go "off-route" for short distances for an additional charge if one's destination is not exactly on the car taxi's route. Car taxis are not allowed to utilise the Priority Bus Route however, and as such maxi-taxis and buses are preferable for speedily entering and exiting the cities (especially Port of Spain) during rush hour (7am-9am and 4pm-6pm).
In Port of Spain all maxi-taxis and buses heading out of the city are centrally housed in the transportation hub known as "City Gate". In all other locations and for Port of Spain Intra-city transportation taxi-stands are scattered at various streets of the town or region, and after sunset some of these taxi-stands may change location, although this changed location is also fixed. Recently there has also been a growth in popularity of American-style taxi-cabs which do not work along a fixed route and can be booked for specific times for specific journeys. They are several times more expensive than fixed-route public transport vehicles, however their prices are still well within the budget of budget-wary tourists and professionals who frequently call upon their services.
Railways:
There is a minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando, but railway service was discontinued in 1968. (The small-guage agricultural railroad was shut down in the late 1990s).
Highways:
total:
8,320 km
paved:
4,252 km
unpaved:
4,068 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,032 km; petroleum products 19 km; natural gas 904 km
Ports and harbours: Pointe-à-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain, Scarborough, Tembladora
Merchant marine:
total:
2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,439 GRT/4,040 DWT
ships by type:
cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 6 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
3
over 3,047 m:
1
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
3
914 to 1,523 m:
1
under 914 m:
2 (1999 est.)
- See also : Trinidad and Tobago