Transport and its management

Transport activities imply the displacement of individuals and goods in both time and space, and involve the deployment of resources to generate trips from many different points during several periods of time.

Since earliest times, man has discovered that transportation is extremely useful for one's livelihood and economic progress. It took him many centuries to adopt new forms of power for transportation. Mechanised transport took better shape when the rapid changes that occurred in late 18th century had spillover effects on methods of communications.

It is not surprising that the initial breakthrough took place in England, the country experiencing the industrial revolution, for there is a close relationship between economic development and growth and progress in transport in its wider sense.

The reason is that transport has to be considered in its two perspectives: linking industrial and commercial activities to the outside world and internal transport systems to sustain the smooth delivery of goods and safe passage of people to their final destination.

Generally, over time, transport has increased the beneficial effects of human mobility, thereby contributing further to human resources development and allocation, minimised the importance of geographical location considerations, and enhanced the movement of a multitude of needed resources. These advantages have resulted because the means of transport can take different forms and sizes, and be flexible in their deployment.

Not all countries are in a position to reap the maximum benefits of modern transport means and systems. Geographical size and a country's location may condition transport availability and use. Small countries tend to suffer because of the smaller volumes of trade needed.

Shipping lines and aircraft do not normally travel to insular and peripheral regions if they do not satisfy the economies of scale criteria. These considerations are likely to affect adversely these countries' economic development and growth.

Many small countries have found ways to overcome these obstacles. The strategies they normally adopt are the building of exclusive economic zones to attract industries whose products are in demand locally or whose exporting will help them gain foreign currency with which to purchase people's needs. They attempt to exploit tourist attractions to generate internal economic activity, and build larger storage space so that volumes in trade increase, thereby achieving better bargains that will lower their cost of living.

They attach considerable importance to the management of internal transport systems as they fully realise the needed flexibility in transport to ensure the movement of resources from one place to another. Mobility is encouraged because it also helps to bring about new ideas and approaches conducive to their economic development and depressed areas become more accessible. With efficient transport management, people will be able to travel to all areas and they will have less pressure to buy cars, the cost of which can be saved and invested.

These general principles can easily be applied to Malta. With an excellent geographical location, the island should have the best air and sea links to cater for its economic and social needs. Though its fares are not competitive, the national airline has succeeded to establish different routes. Other airlines are interested to operate in Malta as they clearly perceive its geographical advantages.

Sea Malta is not as well served. But the Freeport, despite intensive competition, is contributing to establish Malta as an important trade depot in the Mediterranean.

Clearly, the internal transport means and systems need better imagination and foresight. The road infrastructure, despite substantial investments, has not been properly maintained. Perhaps the way roads were built leaves much to be desired.

Every winter many of Malta's roads become a quagmire, forcing drivers into hazardous and awkward situations. Now, with Italian help, a more professional approach is being taken for their construction.

But they are taking too long to be completed. The contingency plans made to divert traffic to other roads are not providing the results drivers expect as there is too much congestion and traffic jams. Too much time is wasted, causing anxiety and frustration, perhaps leading to more traffic accidents. One has to remember that normally we have about 14,000 traffic accidents a year; under these conditions they may as well rise. In addition, a fact sometimes overlooked, fuel costs are thereby also escalating and a potential source of saving is wasted.

Though the management of public transport is improving, only a relatively small proportion of the population uses it. The reason may be that owning and driving a car, for many, is a status symbol. The first objective of many young people on turning 18, is to have a car. It may also be that many believe that public transport is not flexible enough to answer their needs. Another possible reason is that commuters are often treated badly.

It is a fact, however, that bus fares are increasing substantially and this may also deter people from using public transport more often. Apparently, they prefer to pay more and risk losing more time in traffic jams and finding a parking place than sacrifice comfort and convenience.

All these reasons converge to one point: private cars are preferable. The present stock of licensed motor vehicles of all types is about 300,000 of which over 75 per cent are privately owned cars. Malta can boast of one of the highest number of cars per 100 persons. But it certainly cannot boast about the relationship between the number of licensed cars, the number of garages and parking areas.

It is no wonder that traffic wardens are having a field day issuing tickets to traffic offenders. However, while they crack down on parking offenders, they seem to turn a blind eye to motorists who pollute the environment.

The irony is that wardens sometimes themselves go against parking regulations to stop and issue tickets, as parking space is so scarce nowadays. It seems that now local councils are taking up the idea of increasing their revenue from traffic fines by installing cameras at sensitive traffic spots, slowing traffic even more.

Instead of trying to squeeze hard-pressed private car owners local authorities should reflect that Malta, having such a stock of private cars, has exported about Lm900 million. If one were to add the costs of fuel and maintenance, the final bill would soar substantially.

With proper long-term investment, like building tunnels and fly-overs, to ensure a better traffic flow, time and fuel costs will be saved. If modern buses to cater for all - including young, old and disabled - with professionally trained drivers, were introduced many private car owners would certainly prefer to use public transport.

The money spent on private cars and their maintenance - at least Lm1 billion - could easily be saved and invested in the national economy instead.

Malta cannot afford to ignore all potential sources of income. So far transport has not been looked on as an important factor in the country's economic development. Only proper and professional management of all transport systems will help our precarious financial situation.

Dr Borda is an economist specialising in the economic development of small states.