Mayor Wagner: Too Many Vehicles on the Streets!

A new fifteen‑hour traffic survey lays bare just how much Belize City depends on the Swing Bridge and BelCan Bridge. The Swing Bridge moves the most pedestrians in the city, while BelCan carries the largest flow of vehicles. With both set to close and temporary one‑way crossings coming for the next three years, officials expect major congestion. The data also exposes how inefficient city travel has become: private vehicles make up eighty‑four percent of motor transport, taxis twelve, and the average car carries just one-point-seven people. Mayor Bernard Wagner says it is obvious that there are too many cars on the road, and improving public transport can’t wait. Here’s what he had to say.

 

Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor

“Clearly that has to go. Our public transportation system has to become more efficient. If it become efficient, people will leave their vehicles at home because it’s cheaper. You don’t burn gas. I’m glad to see the National Bus Company making that first step towards E-mobility at the national level. We will continue to expand our local transportation in the system. We are looking to get three additional E-Bus this year and so that will expand to five but clearly from the figures you will see that x amount of vehicles coming into the city with like one or two people in it, that they show that they wa have congestion in the city and we have more vehicles on the road than people.” 

 

Mayor Wagner Stays Focused as Term Winds Down

 

Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner enters his final year in office still driving ahead on major redevelopment efforts, from urban upgrades to long-awaited infrastructure projects that will redefine the Old Capital’s landscape. And even as he pushes to deliver priority works like the Albert Street bus terminal and the Yabra Fish Market before his term ends, a new traffic survey is adding fresh urgency to his agenda. The study shows the city’s two key bridges carry the bulk of daily movement and warns of heavy congestion once they close for reconstruction, prompting Wagner to double down on improving public transportation as Belize City braces for years of disruption.

 

Shane Williams

“It must be bittersweet knowing that you won’t be here when these things are completed.”

 

Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City

“I won’t be but I’m excited still because I’m a resident of the city and I’m so glad to see that be city is getting this huge facelift and that we have people in place who, who will carry on the city. The city does not end with Mayor Wagner or did not begin with Mayor Wagner.”

 

Shane Williams

“What’s your hope for your last year? What do you hope?”

 

Bernard Wagner

“We have some priorities areas that we are focused on and we want to ensure that we deliver. We have this bus stop on the Albert Street that is key. We have the fish market, the Yabra Fish Market and other infrastructure works that is important to ensure the city moves along and we are able to meet the demands of the residents of the city.”

 

And with just a year left in office, Mayor Bernard Wagner says he’s staying focused on delivering key projects, not dwelling on the fact that he won’t be the one cutting the ribbons when Belize City’s transformation is complete.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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