DPW limited in bus repair resources

by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - Although it's been able to sustain its bus fleet operation for some time now, if the Department of Public Works doesn't get the additional resources needed to transport over 38,000 of our island's children to and from school, they may encounter some problems as we head into the new year.  DPW director Joanne Brown says they are currently averaging 115 busses today but the ideal number would be close to 150.

She explained, "Our resources are stressed, we're managing the best we can with what we have, but again we have quite a mandate and the newest bus in our fleet is seven years old and our oldest bus is 21. So it's something that we put on the front burner and our policy makers know that this is something we need to address."

With only seven bus mechanics at Public Works, Brown is hopeful that the department will be approved for 8 buses through federal funding and 53 possible civilian buses funding through the defense appropriations act.  DPW is also looking for more bus drivers.