Talks with Arriva on new bus routes and the company’s future will be concluded in a few weeks, Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said this morning.

Addressing a news conference at his ministry he said when asked whether the company would be staying on in Malta that discussions were ongoing and one would know if the company has left as its buses would no longer be seen on the road.

The Government's aim, he said, was to give the people a public transport service that was efficient and up to standard.

The minister said that a study on a new traffic management plan, with short, medium and long term aims was being undertaken in order to ease traffic congestion and improve traffic flow.

The locations where action could be taken in the short term included the roundabout at Ghajn Dwieli, the airport, Naxxar Road, Mdina Road,  Manuel Dimech roundabout in Qormi, Tal-Balal in San Ġwann and Paceville.

The minister noted that several studies showed that that many roundabouts could be done away with and that possibility was also being looking into.

He said that the timing of certain traffic lights was being changed. A medium term project was that of the Kappara flyover, which has been on paper since 1996.

RESIDENTIAL PARKING SCHEMES

Residential parking schemes were being removed but new schemes including for business areas would be created.

The minister said that while Transport Malta had concluded the parking policy, he still had not seen it. Once this was given to him he would discuss it with personnel from the authority and issue it for public consultation.

Work on the December 13 underpass was underway and new concepts for the new Addolorata Cemetery Junction were being considered.

Asked what these concepts were, he said he would make them public once the studies were held.