For the past years we have been discussing the need of a public transport reform. The volume of traffic on our roads is not sustainable and leads to various problems including traffic congestion, which, in turn, means loss of productive time for persons caught in traffic, an increased consumption of fuel and more emissions that lead to an increase in air pollution.

Theoretically, a more efficient public transport system would reduce the need for the use of private vehicles and, hence, ease traffic congestion and its associated problems.

The government, therefore, decided to implement a public transport reform with the aim of improving this service. However, as the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

In its proposal, the government tried to combine the need of a more efficient public transport system while, at the same time, eliminating the problem of dealing with many different bus owners. It also tried to cap the subsidy given to the public transport providers as a public service obligation. For good measure, it also included the operation and management of the Park and Ride facility and added two such amenities at Pembroke and Qormi, obliviously with the idea of transferring the cost of operating these facilities onto the public transport operator.

The government then issued a tender for the provision of public transport and ancillary facilities. This tender was based on a set of routes devised by consultants appointed by Transport Malta. Arriva were awarded this tender.

Minister Austin Gatt promised a public transport service the like of which we never experienced before. Furthermore, Transport Malta invested millions of euros to improve the existing public transport infrastructure.

Dr Gatt was proved right: We never experienced such a disastrous public transport service.

The main reason for this situation lies squarely with Transport Malta, which was responsible for the planning of the routes. The new routes satisfied practically nobody. You cannot get from one place to another on time, which is the basis of any efficient public transport system.

Arriva also had its fair share of problems, some of them not expected from such an experienced public transport contractor. It had teething troubles with its drivers, the buses, which are proving mechanically unreliable, the choice of buses for certain routes led to traffic congestion, etc. Having said all this I am sure Arriva will resolve the problems in due time.

To be fair there were various improvements as well, including modern buses that cater for persons with disability and with a lower emission level and also a modern ticketing system.

However, one problem that has been caused by Transport Malta and which still needs to be tackled is the planning of the routes. Furthermore, the infrastructural works carried out by Transport Malta are still incomplete or, in some instances, make no sense. Thus, for example, the major interchanges and the Valletta terminus still need better facilities for passengers while the infrastructural work carried out has, in part, already been amended and, in other places, still needs to be addressed such as the silly crossing from Pantar Road across Valletta Road, limits of Mosta for public transport buses only (this just eliminates an additional drive of a few metres around a roundabout).

I sincerely hope this public transport debacle is resolved as quickly as possible. However, I must say that I am not very impressed with the arrogant attitude taken by Dr Gatt towards those criticising the system such as the way he reacted to the comments made by Nicola Abela Garrett and, more recently, in his reply to my parliamentary question when he stated that he has no intention of assuming responsibility for decisions taken by Transport Malta officials.

I augur that a solution to the many problems in the public transport service is found as quickly as possible in spite of the minister’s arrogance because we need an efficient public transport service for the sustainable development of our islands.

The author is Labour’s main spokesman for infrastructure, public works, capital projects and sustainable development of central Malta.

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