Breaking with the past

2004 is the year when the last Government commitments to subsidise the purchase of super-low floor buses, resulting from agreements struck in 1995 and 1998, are honoured.

This year was therefore seen as the obvious time to establish a new framework for the operations of public transport in Malta. For a number of years the Public Transport Association had been claiming that the calculations used to establish the expenses to operate the public transport service should peg the salary of a bus driver at the level of a heavy plant driver. Government, on its part, had its own claims, mostly relating to discipline, its authority to request for new routes, and so on.

The bus owners' claim to be better compensated, although justified, will definitely have an impact on public transport expenses. When I started taking part in discussions with the PTA, soon after taking on responsibilities for land transport earlier this year, my preoccupation was how to make public transport affordable, sustainable and attractive. Every fair increase produces a ripple effect reflected in a decrease in patronage, which, in turn goes against Government's policy of encouraging increased use of public transport.

One of the means of making public transport more attractive is to ensure that it changes with our settlement and behaviour patterns. To date, I cannot understand why the University Campus, with a student population close to 10,000 which commutes every day, is so ill-served by the present public transport system. I cannot understand why the ministry had to negotiate to introduce a route with an obvious market such as the Hal Far industrial area. These routes will start operating in a week's time. More importantly, Government's prerogative to establish new routes will be affirmed in the new contract.

Long-term sustainability will not be maintained simply by the introduction, tinkering and juggling of routes. A more radical overhaul is needed to establish a new schedule of routes and trips; to establish the exact number of buses needed to operate the service; to establish modern methods for making public transport accountable; and to establish a new bus replacement policy.

The reform that we have in mind is long-term. Our ultimate aim is to achieve a win-win situation for all stakeholders. We wish to make the current operators truly competitive - because liberalisation could possibly come in ten years' time. We wish that the cost of this system will not be a burden on Government or the user. We would only be satisfied if we see an increased use of the service.

It was not possible to conclude on all the long-term issues this year. Indeed, studies are needed and external expertise will be roped in. We therefore had to distinguish between what was immediately attainable from that which should result from the study. The former will be the basis of an agreement which we will sign tomorrow.

The contract that will be signed tomorrow lays out the payment of Lm2 million in subsidy arrears on a number of instalments. These instalments will be individually linked to specific measures which will have to be implemented by the PTA and enforced by the Malta Transport Authority. Each instalment will only be paid out after the measures tied to it are implemented and the authority will certify to their correct implementation.

Among the measures included in this contract is the introduction of new routes, including those which will link the University and The Strand, Sliema, with several towns and villages. Other existing routes are being extended to offer a linking function between neighbouring localities.

Another important condition requires the regular use of new route buses that were bought recently under a Government subsidy scheme. Any cases of violation of this clause will trigger strict penalties which could ultimately lead to Government calling back the subsidy it had paid out for the purchase of the bus in question.

The new agreement also takes a concrete step to address the problems of indiscipline that plague the public transport system. In fact it entails the introduction of a code of discipline and conduct which will regulate the appearance and behaviour of drivers as well as the upkeep of their vehicle.

This should first of all lead to a direct improvement of the service offered by drivers and secondly, speed up the procedures to process disciplinary cases and payment of fines. All this will be backed up by the introduction of training and certification courses for all bus drivers.

Another condition involves the introduction of an operator's logbook on every vehicle. The logbook will hold detailed information, backed up by the relevant invoices, of maintenance, repairs, VRT and roadside inspections and refuelling. This is intended to lead to a better upkeep of the fleet as well as a decrease in air pollution.

On signing the contract, the PTA will also be agreeing to increase the transparency in its operation by keeping proper accounting records and submitting audited accounts on a regular basis.

The coming months will see other major projects related to land transport in Malta taking shape: a controlled parking system in Valletta and Floriana, the park-and-ride project and a programme to make our roads safer, apart from the extensive road construction exercise currently underway. I expect the increased awareness in transport will raise the public's expectations from the public transport service.

This time we are making sure that the public is not let down again.

Jesmond Mugliett is Minister of Urban Development and Roads