A move to allow Airport taxis to transform themselves into school buses, with the aim of reducing school-run traffic, has moved a step nearer.

The idea found favour with MPs from both sides when it was debated and agreed as one way forward to tackle Bermuda's growing problem with traffic congestion.

Research has shown that school-run traffic accounts for more than a quarter of all vehicles on the road during peak hours.

By allowing Airport limousine operators to put their taxi buses to further use as school buses will serve a double purpose, said Transport Minister Ewart Brown.

For one thing it would mean that Airport taxi limousines would not be sitting idle outside the busy Airport times that tend to be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

And by clearing the way for Airport limousines to also carry passengers to and from schools, it should prove an incentive to school-run parents who will instead put their children on the school bus specials.

Dr. Brown told his House of Assembly colleagues that it has been proven up to 26 percent of traffic congestion during the mornings and afternoons was caused by parents on the school run.

He said that following wide consultation he had drawn up the Motor Car Amendment (No.2) Act that would extend the rights of Airport limousine operators to not only pick up passengers travelling to and from the Airport, but also give them the right to run services that start or finish at a school.

The main period of activity at the airport is the four hours that straddle mid-day, said Dr. Brown, adding that outside these hours: "We have a pool of vehicles waiting to be put to a more creative use."

While broadly welcoming the measure, Shadow Transport Minister Jamahl Simmons wanted to know how many schools and parents would actually use this additional bus option.

And he added: "We have to ask why public buses and ferries are not the first choice of parents."

When it was suggested that there may be a race issue affecting the use of public transport by some children, Mr. Simmons responded: "If there are some people in this Island who are not comfortable with their children, be they black or white, travelling with children of other races, then we need to address it."

Mr. Simmons saw some merit in using the Airport limousine buses to free up regular buses for adult workers and commuters.

During the debate St. David's MP and Shadow Minister of Women's Affairs Suzann Roberts-Holshouser raised the issue of St. David's having no buses at all beyond 6.15 p.m. and the problems and dangers that presented, particularly to vulnerable women in the area who were forced to walk along dark roads.

Opposition leader Grant Gibbons sought concrete proof that parents and schools will take up the option to use the re-directed Airport taxis and questioned the removing of restrictions on how many vehicles an Airport limousine business can operate, asking if it would be seen by taxi drivers as a "Trojan Horse" move likely to eat into their livelihoods.

Responding, Dr. Brown said there had been letters of support for the concept from private schools and some schools "can't wait to give it a try".

And he said he was aware about taxi industry concerns, adding: "The taxi industry must be prepared to compete. The taxi association are not particularly in favour but that's okay. We got their honest remarks."

The Bill was passed at its third reading and now goes to the Senate.