Put public transport reform on fast track, AD insists

Alternattiva Demokratika would like to see a fast reform of the public transport, stressing that pollution caused by traffic was excessive.

AD chairman and MEP candidate Arnold Cassola spoke of the need to introduce new forms of public transport, ranging from sea transport, to buses using clean fuels, taxis and even, in the long term, trams and underground trains.

He welcomed the government's plans, saying that, at long last, the Transport Minister seemed to be moving on the process, which had been "promised, started, stalled, forgotten and revived countless times in the past 22 years".

He criticised the fact that the bus system proposed would not be based on the cleanest emission standards around. "Why is the ministry going for a system using old technology? Why does Malta have to make do with vehicles other countries are taking off the roads? The talk of raising standards amounts to little more than just talk when the choice of buses is again based on those using old technology," he said, insisting on investing in a modern fleet of electric or gas buses.

The more people used public transport the more the country gained from reduced traffic pollution, reduced stress on the road infrastructure and the more scope and space for pedestrianisation in town centres, he said, speaking at the busy Marsa junction.

Prof. Cassola said AD was all for reform but the ministry should come to an agreement with bus owners who were told to buy new buses, since they were given the impression they would be able to recover the cost of the vehicles through years of service.