Killing more than two birds with one stone

I read with interest Michael Frendo's comments in parliament on May 27 suggesting that the government considers a mass transit system for Malta. I would like to encourage greater public support for his proposal and to make a couple of suggestions.

A few weeks ago, Euronews broadcast a programme highlighting some interesting developments in the use of trams. It said electric tram systems were regaining popular support in many modern cities in Europe with a population of less than one million as a means to reduce traffic congestions and carbon fuel emissions.

It also highlighted many modern developments in tram technology, including the ability to change to rubber wheels and cross rail lines when the need arises. If these cities are heading in that direction, there must be a lot to be said for light rail systems.

In Malta, successive transport ministers have tried to increase the use of public transport but none can claim any success. This is primarily due to the simple fact that no amount of inducement will work if the buses will travel slower or at the same speed as one's private car to get from A to B. Buses get stuck in the traffic the same as private cars. The service is often not punctual and most buses are uncomfortable. Even the subtle inducement to keep cars off the road by unleashing traffic wardens on our streets did nothing to curb the use of private cars for commuting and social purposes.

In order to persuade someone to use public transport rather than his private car, he must be convinced he will get to his destination quicker than by using his private car. Expense may be an issue, but fines and higher parking rates have not been shown to be effective in increasing the use of public transport.

The fact of the matter is that one cannot afford to waste over one hour and changing two buses in the process to get from Attard to Sliema as is the case in many other localities and destinations. This also applies to students and young people who are chauffeured around by their parents so as to avoid waste of time in their busy study schedule.

Malta should have a light rail or tram system along all the regional roads, coast road and bypasses. The system could comprise a number of monorail circuits on which light trains take up to 30 minutes to do a round trip at 40 miles per hour and they would travel on tracks separating them from traffic so that they do not get stuck in traffic queues. This effectively means that passengers wanting to get form A to B would, on average, spend about 15 to 20 minutes on the train. This fact alone, if achieved, will induce many to board the train rather than drive to their destination.

Secondly, the government should re-tool the shipbuilding yard and retrain workers to build the carriages and tracks required for the service and to maintain and operate the system when in operation.

This could mean that the burden of the shipyard on the economy could be changed to one of serious investment into our own transport infrastructure which improves our quality of life rather than subsidising foreign shipowners.

The project could be one financed by the EU since it qualifies as an infrastructural project. Moreover, the money earmarked for the shipyards over the next seven years to make them viable would be money invested into redirecting the nature of operations from building ships to building mass transport systems for our own use and, possibly, for other countries in the future.

Local councils could team up to provide localised transport services on lighter minibuses for areas not close to the regional roads network.

The benefits that emanate from such a system in terms of environmental improvement are too numerous to mention and I am sure would outweigh the possible negative impact in terms of use of virgin land and electricity.