Free park and ride

The park and ride scheme will be free of charge and the number of zones in Valletta that will be barred to traffic have been reduced under the government's final traffic management plan for the city after months of debate and controversy.

The scheme will be up and running by October. In a surprise move, the government has decided that it should be provided for free when previously the service from Blata l-Bajda was expected to set commuters back by around 60c each time.

However, the hourly rate for driving into Valletta has been marginally increased. No charge will be levied for the first half hour but a 35c fee will be imposed for every hour after that, reaching a maximum of Lm2.80 a day.

This marks an increase from the 30c an hour and Lm2.40 maximum fee originally planned. The 10c night fee (with effect from 7 p.m.) has been eliminated while parking on Sundays and public holidays will be free. This system is expected to come into force by January and the Lm20 Valletta annual licence will be eliminated.

Entry into Valletta will be monitored through cameras, which will record the time of entry and exit. The method of payment has not yet been established.

Residents and their immediate family members, motorbikes and emergency vehicles are among the segment that will be excluded from payment.

Those providing a service in the city, such as electricians, will however have to pay the fee, though it was pointed out that in reality many workmen are refusing to venture into Valletta because of the traffic chaos.

Contrary to the initial plans, vehicles will still be permitted to park in the following areas: the Central Bank and Stock Exchange car parks; the road from Ta' Liesse to Customs House; the stretch from the Excelsior Hotel to Mattia Preti Square; and the quay close to the Sliema ferry.

Most of the reserved parking spaces in the city will be eliminated.

"We haven't found a solution to please everybody but I believe we've struck the right balance," said Investments Minister Austin Gatt, who heads a Cabinet Committee for National Projects. He was addressing a news conference for which several organisations were present.

The publication of a White Paper on traffic management in Valletta and Floriana published a year ago drew contrasting reactions. On one hand there was a chorus of disapproval by individuals who complained of the cost and the inconvenience, but on the other many applauded the overdue initiative to reduce traffic in the capital city.

The park and ride scheme will provide 950 parking spaces in Blata l-Bajda and shuttle buses will leave for Valletta every five minutes or so. The service will be provided by conventional transport and not electric vehicles as originally proposed. The call for tenders for the private operation of the car park has been withdrawn and the place will now be managed by the government. On the other hand the transport service will be privately operated.

Though the park and ride service will be provided at no cost, the government believes it will be self sustaining from the fees charged for entering Valletta. Besides, the capital cost of the new service has been funded by the Commuter Payment Parking Scheme.

A call for tenders for a cable car linking lower to upper Valletta will be issued soon.

Upon the request of the local council, Floriana has been completely excluded from the plan but Transport Minister Jesmond Mugliett explained that this would be more detrimental to the locality as many will seek to park in the periphery of Valletta. A call for tenders for a private electric taxi service within the city is currently subject to appeal.

Giving an overview of the reaction to the White Paper, Dr Gatt said all respondents agreed on the need to ease traffic congestion and on the importance of increasing pedestrian zones.

With the exception of several operators, everybody agreed on the need for the open-air market to shift further down in Merchants Street.

Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit gave an overview of the pedestrianisation programme. Work on the repaving of St John's Square will start in September followed by Merchants Street early next year, and then by Palace Square. One thing is certain - works will not be carried out overnight because some water and drainage provisions will have to be transferred underground first. The four- to five-year project will come to a close with the embellishment of Castille Place, most of which will also be pedestrian-only and the Manwel Dimech statue removed.

Asked whether he could guarantee that the city will not turn into a makeshift quarry during the embellishment works, Mr Zammit replied: "We have learnt from past mistakes."

Environment Minister George Pullicino said that 11 per cent of all daily traffic on the island ventures into Valletta, emphasising the importance of reducing harmful emissions in the historic city.

Mr Pullicino also revealed that the makeshift parking area in front of Gattard House in Blata l-Bajda (close to the Peugeot head office) will be eliminated once the park and ride scheme is in operation and trees will be planted instead.

The plan's salient points

¤ Free transport from Blata l-Bajda to Valletta and back at five-minute intervals;

¤ 35c hourly parking charge in Valletta - maximum Lm2.80 a day. No payment at night;

¤ Residents and motorbikes among those excluded from paying;

¤ Lm20 Valletta licence fee eliminated;

¤ Cable car will link lower and upper Valletta;

¤ Floriana excluded from the traffic plans;

¤ Open-air market to be shifted;

¤ Merchants Street, St John's Square among areas to be pedestrianised.