For thousands of southern Belizean commuters who currently endure longer, more crowded trips to Belize City via the capital Belmopan, a much-anticipated travel upgrade could be just weeks away. Belize’s Transport Minister Dr. Louis Zabaneh has confirmed that the National Bus Company (NBC) is actively evaluating the launch of a new bus route that would traverse the largely underused Coastal Plain Highway, a major infrastructure project completed with a $158 million investment combining grant funding and government expenditure.
In a recent interview following the announcement, Minister Zabaneh laid out a clear timeline and rationale for the proposed change, noting that the new service could launch as early as mid-May 2026. A key priority for the department is giving current commuters sufficient time to review the proposed changes and submit feedback before implementation. Once the route launches, the policy will remain flexible: officials will adjust schedules or service frequency based on real-world usage if any issues arise.
According to the minister, the route is targeted at the significant share of southern commuters who currently must travel through Belmopan to reach Belize City. By shifting to the Coastal Plain Highway, these travelers could cut their one-way commute by roughly an hour, a change that would dramatically reduce daily travel time for workers, students, and other frequent visitors to the city.
Beyond improving commuters’ daily experiences, Zabaneh emphasized that the new route would unlock greater value from the country’s existing infrastructure investment. The upgraded Coastal Plain Highway has been completed for some time, but it has not seen the traffic volumes that planners projected, leaving the multi-million-dollar upgrade significantly underutilized. Launching a dedicated bus route through the corridor is seen as a strategic step to put public infrastructure to work for the communities it was built to serve, while addressing growing demand for more efficient north-south travel options across southern Belize.