Valletta traffic plan

When the new traffic plan for Valletta was announced and explained by Investments Minister Austin Gatt (Free Park And Ride, July 4), Malta opened a new chapter in traffic policy.

Since my first visit to Valletta, which was more than 10 years ago, I have always been annoyed and disappointed by the traffic concept for Malta's capital. Whenever I had an appointment in Valletta or wanted to do some shopping there, I had to plan the visit very well, because I always lost a lot of time due to the traffic and parking problem in and around the city.

The system has to be changed. Even with the licence to enter Valletta, it does not automatically mean that you find a place to park there or that you save time. At the same time residents had to suffer from increasing numbers of cars allowed to enter the city. And one must not forget the open market, road works, works on buildings which occupied parts of the roads, pedestrians walking everywhere and so on. Valletta just cannot take it anymore.

A free park and ride system with a regularly operating shuttle service is absolutely the right thing to do. However, I believe that 950 parking spaces in Blata l-Bajda are not enough. The authorities also still have to determine the operating times of the shuttles. What about Sundays and public holidays? What about the evenings?

The hourly parking charge of 35c with a maximum of Lm2.80 per day is still on the low side and can be increased. An hourly fee of 50c and Lm5 would still be reasonable. Free parking at night is a good measure. And free parking for residents and their families is a must.

Those providing services in the city, such as electricians, suppliers of goods, builders and constructors, etc. should still pay a licence fee, with the charge depending on the size of the vehicle and on its level of pollution (diesel pollutes more).

A cable car linking upper and lower Valletta is a good idea. The investors and the operators just have to make sure that they determine a ticket scheme which suits all locals and tourists. The cable car service could then even be extended to the park and ride area or to other surrounding sites.

The fact that Floriana is excluded from the traffic plans seems to be the right decision. Floriana already has problems with traffic and parking. However, the new concept for Valletta will have an effect on Floriana, too. This cannot be denied.

Shifting the open-air market makes sense considering the place where it is located. This is a minor measure.

I believe that more areas should be pedestrianised. Merchants Street and St John's Square are two places where traffic definitely needs to be banned. Actually, all of Republic Street's side streets should become a pedestrian zone too as should Freedom Square and its access roads and the northern and north eastern part of Castille Square.

Let's hope that this new chapter in traffic policy is only a first step on the way to a better traffic concept for the whole country.