Updated 11.10am with Transport Malta reaction

The possibility of imposing a congestion tax to limit emissions and mitigate traffic in critically congested zones is floated in a master plan published by the transport watchdog.

The document, which calls for “a strong restriction” in private car usage, also recommends a €336 million investment to upgrade the road network over a 10-year period, an improved ferry service, increasing bus and cycle lanes and rolling out incentives in favour of carpooling.

The plan, which has been published for public consultation, outlines the options that are available for the government to ease traffic congestion by 2025, including the repercussions of doing just the bare minimum.

Compiled by Spanish consortium Ineco-Systematic on behalf of Transport Malta, the 400-page study includes a detailed analysis of the prevailing situation, including specific nodes that need urgent attention.

The plan concludes that the best way forward would be in favour of “a strong restriction in the use of private cars, moderate levels of road infrastructure provision and strong support of public transport and alternative modes”.

The best way forward favours a strong restriction in the use of private cars, moderate levels of infrastructure provision and strong support of public transport and alternatives

This package of measures includes the possibility of introducing low emission zones in dense and polluted urban areas by charging a fee.

The plan points out that such zones operate by either prohibiting vehicles with higher emissions from entering an area or by requiring the more polluting vehicles to pay extra.

It notes that the 2012 national environment policy had identified several localities where the level of certain traffic-generated pollutants, like particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide, exceeded the legal limits. For this reason, the plan recommends a pilot project to test the feasibility of a low emission zone along St Anne Street, in Floriana.

The measure would also include a joint study by the transport and environmental watchdogs to identify all the areas where air pollution from motor vehicles is regularly at a dangerous level. This would contribute to assess the different scenarios and options for the access control of high-polluting vehicles.

Moreover, the pilot project would serve to analyse the potential impacts of such zones including the possibility of extending the congestion tax to other parts of the road network, using network and air pollution modelling software.

For demonstration purposes, the master plan examines the impact if such measure were to be introduced in the most critically congested zone in Malta.

Under this model, the most punished would be owners of vehicles 15 years old or more, who would have to pay a €1 fee to enter the zone during critical peak hours.

The report says that such a tariff would apply to 106,000 light vehicles and 29,000 heavy vehicles.

As for the rest of the cars with higher emissions standards, 40 per cent of the standard fee would apply for light vehicles and 64 per cent for heavy ones.

Photo: Darrin Zammit LupiPhoto: Darrin Zammit Lupi

No tax on car movements - TM

In a reaction this morning, Transport Malta said there are no plans to introduce congestion tax or any other form of tax on car movements in Malta.

"The story itself indicates, that this suggestion is for demonstration purposes. The master plan examines the impact if such measure were to be introduced in the most critically congested zones in Malta.”

The suggested measure is part of hundreds of other measures in the National Transport Plan 2025, issued for public consultation. The plan also clearly indicates that studying the potential of this measure would be a post 2025 measure if considered, and would only kick in after other positive incentives and infrastructure investments have been undertaken, TM said. 

One of the Transport Plan’s major contribution is to appraise and analyse different policy mix scenarios. The policy mix, identified in the same Times of Malta article, includes the numerous measures in different scenarios.

"These include moderate level of road infrastructure, measures to increase the average speed of public transport, measures to improve ferry services, the implementation of the two cycling corridors, the promotion of multiple occupancy, low emission zones in the hub, a fast ferry service between Malta and Gozo and freight ferry daily service between Malta and Gozo."

The Master Plan suggests various road infrastructure interventions. It suggests the removal of the bottleneck in Addolorata, the ongoing Kappara Project and December 13 road, among several others.

The cost of congestion each year will be reduced by 18 per cent. Co2 emissions will be reduced by 17 per cent and the cost of pollution will go down by 15 per cent.

"Finally, the government made it very clear that in the current circumstances it has no plans to introduce punitive measures. This was clearly reflected in the budget speech where only positive measures and incentives were given."

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