Trees removed as work starts on new terminus

A number of trees have been removed as work starts on the building of the new bus terminus in St James Ditch, just outside City Gate, Valletta.

The permit for the new facility was issued by Mepa in October.

The new terminus, which will replace the one at City Gate, will be far smaller, consisting of just 14 parking bays since there will be a higher utilisation of buses and less waiting time under the bus service reform. The current terminus has 41 bays.

Buses will not drive up towards City Gate and park around the Tritons Fountain anymore. Instead, passengers will alight at a stage which will be built close to the gardens opposite the Phoenicia Hotel. Buses will then turn down towards St James Ditch and park briefly in one of the bays where passengers will board.

The new terminus will cover about 3,500 square metres, down from the present 9,500.

A number of kiosks will be set up in the ditch and there will be canopies extending outward to provide shelter to passengers.

The area around the fountain will be turned into a pedestrian-only zone, in keeping with architect Renzo Piano’s plans for the entrance to the city.

The public transport reform will decentralise the current system so that Valletta will no longer remain the main hub for the majority of bus routes. Other major hubs – at Mater Dei Hospital, Luxol and Paola, among others – will be included in the network.

Transport Minister Austin Gatt said lasy year that the total cost of the terminus is expected to be just over €3 million, 66 per cent below the original proposal, made some years ago, for the terminus to be moved underground at City Gate.

Dr Gatt had said discussions were still to be held with the hawkers who occupy the ditch on Sundays in a bid to find a suitable alternative location for the open-air market.

The uprooted trees are expected to be planted elsewhere.