Park and ride - a success story

It is very encouraging to see the positive reactions generated by the park and ride project. Indeed, one customer even commented in your paper that the service was a luxury and a pleasure.

Truly, the running of this operation is as orderly and efficient as one could wish for and the place itself is spacious and well lit. It is a clear example of how good planning and efficient management can make life easier. This, in spite of the change in culture needed: from ride and park to park and ride.

The project originated through the Structure Plan (1990) strategic objective for a Park and Ride for Valletta set by policy PTR10 and through the Valletta Transport Study (1994). It has been long in realisation, but that is the whole point of planning for the future - the ability to foresee needs.

To put this plan in action MEPA gave ADT Lm250,000. This sum was collected from those planning applications which had not provided for sufficient parking and instead paid a compensation into the Commuted Payment Parking Scheme fund.

The 950 spaces created in the Park and Ride will replace the same number of spaces to be removed from the centre of Valletta - a commitment made by Government to enhance the visual aspect of Valletta, to enable further pedestrianisation to take place, to improve safety and, most of all, to ensure that the flow of traffic towards Valletta does not increase.

The whole strategy will hinge on reducing congestion and improving the air quality, not only by reducing the pollution from the use of the car, but also by promoting the use of environment-friendly vehicles and transport alternatives. The strategy's aim is to encourage the historic and economic regeneration of the capital city.

The economic benefits of sound planning policy direction are already being felt in the increased ease with which Christmas shoppers and Notte Magica revellers visited Valletta. The environmental benefits will be slower to perceive, but will just as surely materialise.