Fewer cars on the road

The controlled vehicular access system (CVA) introduced earlier this month has the objective of reducing both the number of cars entering Valletta and the length of stay of those that enter at peak time, thereby making room for more visitors to Valletta. It has introduced a congestion charge that belongs to the family of charges applied in London and elsewhere. These charges are eco taxes. They are introduced for the purpose of attaining an environmental objective. Eco taxes can be legally avoided. A change in behaviour is all that is required. However, to change your behaviour the existence of a reasonable and reliable alternative to the taxed behaviour is essential.

The CVA has been considered by many as a success.

Others, not having yet overcome prejudice to change, have found many faults in the system. Perfect it certainly is not. Yet, it is a vast improvement of the system it substitutes. It could, however, be improved.

The Malta Transport Authority (ADT) could be more expeditious in implementing the required initiatives that are so necessary in encouraging the public to forego the use of private cars and shift their custom to public transport. It was only on May 2 that it introduced, on trial, a pilot express bus service from Mosta and Zurrieq to Valletta. Earlier introduction of this pilot project would have placed ADT in a position to implement this service from most of the major localities on the introduction of CVA. Commuters would thus have had a real alternative to using private cars, thereby reducing traffic on all our roads - including Valletta. A direct result would be the smaller take-up of the parking space available at the Park and Ride facility, which already at the end of the third week from the CVA inception is deemed to be too small ! An extension is, in fact, in the pipeline.

The CVA should be seen as part of a national sustainable transport strategy aimed at promoting increased accessibility and simultaneously reducing cars on the roads throughout the Maltese islands. Transport has been identified by the 2005 State Of The Environment Report as one of those sectors that have a significant environmental impact in Malta: Valletta is not the only locality in Malta affected by transport. It is a problem in practically each and every locality.

Substantial public monies have been injected by the government in the public transport system as it is recognised that an efficient public transport is the key to a successful national sustainable transport strategy. The Halcrow report commissioned by ADT and originally concluded in mid-2005 was made public in November 2006. The implementation of this report's recommendations (or of reasonable variations thereto agreed with the stakeholders) is essential if the effort to improve public transport is to bear fruit.

This has to be complemented with a redesigning of the car registration taxation. In an increasing number of countries current practice is such that vehicle taxation is related to impacts in use - irrespective of whether they are new or second hand vehicles. It is possible to ensure tax neutrality (that is no overall increase in car taxes) when taxing the environmental impacts of vehicles.

In Malta some minor changes have been carried out in this respect but the impacts have so far been negligible. For example, the 2001 budget partially exempted battery-driven cars from the payment of car registration taxes. Yet, after almost six years we have only 17 battery-driven cars on our roads.

The national sustainability strategy, which is still in draft form, advocates the promotion of sustainable transport, in particular through tackling issues of congestion and emissions. The strategy, in addition to emphasising the need to improve the public transport system, also insists on the banning of heavy vehicles from residential areas. But, significantly, it also proposes that employers, schools and hospitals implement their corporate social responsibility by adopting green travel plans as a result of which they would minimise peak hour congestion traffic.

The CVA is being reasonably successful in reaching its aims. It needs reinforcing through the implementation of a sustainable transport policy applicable throughout Malta and Gozo. This will increase the CVA success story and get more cars off the road throughout the Maltese islands.

The author is an architect and civil engineer, specialising in sustainability and environmental management.

cacopardocarm@euroweb.net.mt