Updated - Government considering light rail or monorail - Improving the roads infrastructure was important, but, on its own, it would not solve the traffic problems, according to a German traffic expert.

Manfred Boltze from Darmstadt University of Technology this afternoon insisted that fiscal measures to make private car use unattractive were a must in any transport plan.

Prof. Boltze was the keynote speaker at a conference on traffic management organised by the Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry in Valletta.

He cautioned that to gain wider acceptance, restrictive measures had to lead to tangible improvements in the environment and travel efficiency. Alternative means of  transport  had to be cheaper and offer shorter travel times to make people leave their cars at home.

He acknowledged the difficulty of such an approach as politicians dithered on using taxation as a tool to control traffic congestion.

His observation was picked up by economist Lino Briguglio, who insisted the Valletta CVA system - Malta's equivalent of the congestion tax - should be tweaked and extended beyond Valletta.

"This should not be used to raise revenue but to cut air pollution and ease traffic congestion in key areas," he said.

Prof. Briguglio noted the biggest problem with public transport was the lack of punctuality that made it unattractive for commuters.

The conference was also addressed by entrepreneur Angelo Xuereb, who proposed the construction of a bypass in Iklin to alleviate congestion at the Lija cemetery roundabout. The bypass would link the Birkirkara bypass to the Mosta Technopark, passing on the outskirts of Iklin.

He also rekindled a pet project of his: an underground monorail system around the harbour area to keep cars outside the harbour conurbation and make travel easier.

LIGHT RAIL UNDER CONSIDERATION

Environment Minister Leo Brincat, who spoke at the same conference, said the government is considering the potential of mass transport systems such as a light rail or monorail.

He also said that an Intelligent transport System for better monitoring and control of Malta's roads is expected to be completed by 2020.

He said transport was one of the major producers of greenhouse gas. The government, he said, was promoting the use of electric vehicles. He said that when considering electric vehicles, the people should not think only of cars, but also of electric scooters, mopeds and battery assisted bicycles, which coudl also contribute to a reduction of traffic congestion.

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