Every single Lebanese person through his life has reminisced about our country’s golden days. The fifties and sixties of the previous century were good to Lebanon. People back then were genuinely happy and relaxed. One of the major factors for such as a smooth sailing existence was the highly efficient public transportation sector. The organized bus stops and terminals alongside the trains and tramway allowed individuals to move freely throughout the country from north to south to all around and quite cheaply. The traffic during those times was quite minimal. People did not feel the need to own a car, especially within the major cities and their vicinities. Unfortunately, public transportation in Lebanon has since declined to an unacceptable state. People are stranded on the highways for hours just to reach their homes. They are forced to use their own cars because the public buses are not up to par, leading to even more traffic.
Luckily, good things come to those who wait and lord knows how long Lebanese people have waited. The World Bank has agreed to loan Lebanon a total amount of 295 million dollars to rehabilitate its public transportation sector. The GBPTP’s (Greater Beirut Public Transport Project) main goal is to modernize the vehicles and routes as well as create thousands of jobs for the increasing numbers of unemployed citizens. Finally, Lebanon back on track! New jobs, less traffic and an improved bus system! Hopefully, this is just the first step in a long line of improvements and progress.