Park 'n Ride to start running by May

The Park and Ride scheme will start operating at the end of next May at the latest although Urban Development Minister Jesmond Mugliett said it could start earlier.

Tenders for operating the system will be received until September 22.

After 60 days from the submission deadline - November 21 - the successful company or group will be announced. The contract is expected to be finalised on December 5.

The operator of the Park and Ride scheme will have to ensure that the service runs efficiently.

The successful bidder - a call for tenders was issued last week - will be bound to finish the project, apart from running it and offering a shuttle service to and from Valletta for 10 years, Mr Mugliett said yesterday.

The government will invest Lm430,000 so that the operator will be able to charge low fees. The investment includes Lm120,000 for the construction of two junctions in Blata l-Bajda so that traffic from Marsa would have direct access to the Park and Ride area; Lm40,000 for work in St Anne Street, Floriana and Lm270,000 for the asphalting of Crown Works and Horn Works, a duct system, a storm water system and the construction of administrative buildings.

More than half of the government's investment came from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority's commuted payment parking scheme.

The project is expected to reduce the number of cars entering Valletta and Floriana on a daily basis. About 110,000 vehicle trips are made daily during the morning rush hour.

The minister explained that about 950 parking spaces will no longer be available in Valletta and Floriana but will be made available instead at the Park and Ride site.

The government plans to abolish the V licence enabling all drivers to enter Valletta.

Future plans include the building of an underground car park in Freedom Square.

Maximum waiting times for the shuttle service will be set by the government which has issued target fees for the use of the car park. The maximum parking rate for a day is targeted at 60c, a week's ticket costs Lm2.20, a monthly ticket Lm12.15 and a ticket for a year would cost Lm118.