Transport Minister Joe Mizzi’s announcement that the government will shortly be selecting the best offer for a study on the options and costs of a tram service is to be welcomed. Asked about a previous commitment to conduct a feasibility study on a monorail system, which is now more than a year late, he said its conclusions were awaited. Mr Mizzi’s declarations came a week after Opposition leader Simon Busuttil called for the setting up of a modern train system for Malta and Gozo.
It is encouraging that a consensus seems to exist between the government and Opposition over the need for additional modes of public transport.
It is clear that the country’s bus service, which has improved somewhat from the days of obsolete buses and extremely rude bus drivers, is unable to provide an adequate service for commuters and has failed to convince car users to switch to using public transport. Put simply, it takes far too long on many bus routes to get from A to B.
The result is that far too many people are using their own cars for their transport needs. This has led to a huge increase in traffic congestion as well as road rage, more car accidents and problems with parking. Surveys have shown that 74 per cent of people often encounter problems when travelling and 97 per cent consider road congestion to be a major concern. Official NSO statistics show that at the end of June this year, the stock of licensed motor vehicles stood at 352,671. This makes Malta the country with the fifth-highest number of vehicles per capita in the world.
It is clear that this situation is unsustainable. Besides posing a threat to our health and damaging the environment, traffic congestion is bad for the economy and makes the country unattractive for foreign direct investment. If this trend continues and the number of cars purchased keeps on increasing, Malta’s roads will come to a virtual standstill with obvious negative consequences for our quality of life and the economy.
It is important, therefore, that the government gives public transport the importance it deserves and comes out with a clear, long-term strategy for ending the country’s over-reliance on private vehicles and improving this crucial sector of our economy. What is needed is the drawing up of a holistic master plan for public transport which not only considers the possibility of tram, monorail or train systems, but also tunnels, underground metro, increased ferry crossings between Sliema, Valletta and Cottonera, and a shift to motorbikes and bicycles.
The important thing is that any new transport proposals are joined together under one plan. Why, for example, as Dr Busuttil recently suggested, should it not be possible for a commuter in Victoria to get on a train and end up in Sliema, Valletta or Malta International Airport? The government needs to have a clear vision for public transport which will address the huge challenges that this country is facing is this sector. For a government that prides itself on taking fast decisions, on being pro-business and presiding over record economic growth, it is unfortunate that traffic congestion and public transport have not been given the attention they deserve.
The government should speak to the private sector about investing in a modern public transport system and it should also explore the possibility of acquiring EU funds for such a venture. Public transport is vital for continued economic growth and for a good quality of life. As a modern EU Member State Malta deserves to have a reliable and efficient public transport system, and the government should make this its number one priority.