Malta needs to implement measures for a sustainable reduction in the number of cars on the road, Transport Malta chairman and CEO James Piscopo says in an opinion piece in The Sunday Times of Malta.

"That Malta's roads are congested is no perception but an uncomfortable reality we are living," he says. 

He said that Transport Malta has been working on a multi-modal National Transport Strategy that will also include a computer simulation model which, for the first time, will enable it to test the impact of different policies and plans from a traffic management, social, environmental and safety perspective. A public consultation will be held by the end of the year.

Transport Malta is also implementing a state-of-the-art Intelligent Traffic Management System whereby real time cameras will be installed in traffic sensitive spots across the road network.  

The introduction of parking hubs is actively being studied. A stronger emphasis on underutilised other modes of transport, such as maritime ferry links, is also needed.  

He lists road projects being handled by Transport Malta but says a reduction in the number of cars is also needed.

"I am, of course, very aware that this is a hot potato but it is useless beating about the bush. Car taxes generate some €100 million in government revenue, the car industry employs hundreds of people, while increasing the cost of operating a car is socially sensitive.

"Car ownership in Malta has doubled in 10 years, the modal share of car trips increased from 70 per cent to 75 per cent and the average car occupancy rate has remained very low at 1.25 persons per vehicle.

"With 332,000 licensed cars we have practically reached a state of car dependence. Traffic behaviour is tantamount to that of flowing water.  If traffic volumes don’t flow, congestion occurs.

"It is only by controlling the volumes and eliminating bottlenecks that a sustainable flow can be achieved."

He mentions car sharing and car pooling are excellent supporting options and says car users and commuters need to have choices including a new, efficient bus service which the authority is working on.

Read more in The Sunday Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.  

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