Cable car proposal hangs in mid-air

A proposal for a cable car system linking the cruise liner terminal to Valletta and the park-and-ride in Floriana remains hanging in mid-air, The Times has learnt.

"The government is not pushing the idea further and is exploring other areas of vertical transport connecting lower and upper Valletta, such as a funicular and escalators," a Roads Ministry spokesman said.

The idea for the introduction of electric taxis in the city and the installation of escalators was mooted in a White Paper released by the government in July aimed at easing traffic congestion in the city.

An application for a cable car system is still pending before the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

The proposed Lm3-million project, which would run the 2.5 kilometre stretch between the Upper Barrakka, in Valletta, and the park-and-ride in Floriana, had been launched at a press conference in April 2004.

At the time it was reported that the cable car "can be up and running within a year once the permits are issued". Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett was also quoted as saying that the matter "will soon be discussed in Parliament, but the government was looking favourably on the concept, which will facilitate transport within the city".

Many arguments then arose over its aesthetics, so Viset, which had come up with the proposal, spent Lm35,000 on studies to demonstrate that the visual impact of the project was minimal.

Despite this, many remained unconvinced and no agreement on the proposal was ever reached.

When contacted to comment on this latest development, Viset chief executive Chris Falzon maintained his strong belief that the Valletta Waterfront project was heavily dependent on a cable car to link it to the heart of the city and to the park-and-ride project.

"We are hoping the government will reconsider this option," he said.

Mr Falzon pointed out that the private sector was investing €25 million in a project, and everybody felt Viset was doing a good job so far. "However, the project can only succeed through proper transport links, otherwise it will be isolated. It's a beautiful project out on a limb," he said.

Viset was also facing problems to get the go-ahead for a four-storey parking place in the area and has still to get public transport to pass along the waterfront.

Viset felt that through the cable car system it was proposing a good mass transportation system that could take 1,000 passengers an hour from a parking area to the city in six minutes with no hassles.

"There are other obvious links to connect the harbour and the city, but we believe that the cable car is the only real solution," Mr Falzon said.