Minister promises extensive public transport reform
Transport Minister Austin Gatt yesterday in Parliament gave extensive details of the reforms envisaged for the public transport system in both Malta and Gozo. He said the tender was in the final process of being drawn up and should be published by the end of July, but its distribution throughout Europe would mean just over a year for adjudication.
Answering a number of supplementary questions by opposition whip Joe Mizzi, Dr Gatt said there would be 280 vehicles of various sizes for direct services between large towns, internal services such as inside the Cottonera, and cross-over services between systems. Valletta would not remain the only major terminal; there would be three others.
Buses would have to be up to Euro 3 standards and less than 15 years old. There would be a "strong increase" in frequencies and last trips all over the system would be at 11 p.m.
Minister Gatt said that having a transport system unique to Gozo would mean an annual loss of around €2 million, so it would have to be part of the whole system. The Gozo Bus Owners Association, represented by the GRTU, now seemed to be coming around to the idea and accepting to have talks with the government.
He said that patronage of the public transport system was now down to 30 million a year, which was very low. The only way to convince people to patronise the system again would be through a better service all around. This was also the only other way to fight traffic-caused pollution besides having more fuel-efficient transport with fewer emissions.
If EU rules did not allow the Public Transport Association to be awarded the contract for 10 years, the government had promised to pay compensation to the association.
Minister Gatt said there would be an intelligent traffic management system to control the present whereabouts of any individual public transport vehicle.
Bus fares would be part of the system determined by the ADT, and a new system was currently being worked out. It would be akin to the very successful system on Gozo Channel, and would entail the least change to regular users and somewhat more to irregular users.
The location of new bus shelters would be determined by the ADT on request by respective local councils or by the contractor.
Answering more supplementary questions by Mr Mizzi, Minister Gatt said the government would be ready to buy older or sub-standard buses from their owners as part of the compensation promised to the PTA.
Talks with Gozo taxis had been concluded, and others were ongoing separately with vans, coaches and white taxis in Malta. The latter were close to conclusion.
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Joseph Attard
May 17th 2009, 06:46
On a piont of clarification
The proposal issued by Government for the reform in Gozo leaves much to be desired. Whilst it projected an income of Euros 233, 000, it projected expenses of just over 2 million a loss of 1.8 million annually.. GRTU and GBOA made counter proposals which took into consideration the investment made by the bus owners overthe yearsand the reality of Gozo. This meant that GBOA and GRTU were ready to take three steps forward to improve the system instead of ten steps.
However the bus owners are extremely preoccupied that no answers re this proposal was forthcoming from Government and taking into consideration that their only playing card was the coming MEP elections they decided to ask Government for compensation so that they be excluded from the scheduled /or both scheduled and unscheduled system.
The wording" now seemed to be coming around to the ideaand accepting to have talks with Government " is totally unacceptable in its context.
The Minister is aware that GRTU and GBOA both met to discuss the proposal being made by Government and also sent back feedback in writing. The public has a right to know the correctness of information.
John Azzopardi
May 12th 2009, 13:35
Without the reintroduction of mass transport such as trams or light rail, the public transport problem will never be solved. It is just throwing good money after bad. It is amazing how we manage to keep making wrong strategic decisions. The demise of the railway was such a decision, based only on economic factors. No-one had the vision to see how the population would explode. Now government is making the same mistake over again.
r ferriggi
May 12th 2009, 13:18
Onor Gatt,
please add:
1. strict yearly tests for all drivers who deal with tourists.
2. suspension for any abuses of all kinds.
may i add:
PLEASE START DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE ROAD NETWORK ,,, ESPECIALLY FROM CIRKEWWA TO XEMXIJA.
THE ROAD IS DISINTEGRATING.
DVella
May 12th 2009, 12:35
How about we join the better part of EU Member states and insist on buses that are Euro 5 compliant and not more than FIVE years old???? When I visited Edinburgh in 2004, the buses there were already Euro 3 compliant . . . so why are we settling for outdated standards??
Joe Grima (Brussels)
May 12th 2009, 11:26
The need of a REAL reform in the public transport service is something desired by all.
I would have preferred that something about driver manners and ethics would be done too! Having worked in a tourist establishment for eleven years, I used to hear frequent complaints, and often I had to apologize in their place!! Most often it was the lack of manners, drivers smoking, loud music, and the occasional insult, to top it all. Even some inspectors should be given some training.
On one occasion, months after the route of a particular bus was changed, bringing it much closer to our establishment, a tourist came and told me how disgusted he was. He had come before via the new route, but on that day the driver decided to take the short cut. The poor elderly tourist complained, but he was given a very curt reply. Noticing that an inspector was on board, the unlucky tourist turned towards him for support, only to be told that the driver was right!!!!!!!!! There was nothing else for the poor old man to do, except to take the long walk!!!