In another contribution (July 9), I had argued that the biggest impact of the proposed Renzo Piano project was on traffic circulation within Valletta and on the parking facilities within the city precincts.
The Piano project as proposed (together with the pedestrianisation of St George's Square) will effectively remove more than half the existing visitor car parking spaces within Valletta and lead to huge traffic congestion problems especially in the lower (residential) part of Valletta.
Unless the Piano project is accompanied by an innovative public transport system that satisfies the requirements of those who live, work or visit Valletta for entertainment purposes, then this project might cause serious problems to the existing businesses in our capital city.
One such option is a maritime public transport system that would connect the Valletta peninsula with the towns across both Grand Harbour and Marsamxetto Harbour. In our vision for the regeneration of the harbours, the Labour Party had also suggested a physical connection across the Valletta peninsula to join the Grand Harbour with Marsamxetto Harbour. Such a mode of public transport would be provided by means of ferries that would have various stops in the various cities all along the coast of the harbour.
However, for this means of transport to function properly one would need a system whereby passengers are ferried from the hinterland to the ferry stops. The reason for this is that parking space along the coast is very restricted and, hence, one would not be able to park one's vehicle near a ferry stop. One could therefore consider a park and ride system whereby vehicles coming in from outlying villages/towns would park in the hinterland and be transported by mini buses to the ferry stops. For the Cottonera area one could have a large car park in the area between Cospicua/Żabbar/Fgura while for the Sliema/St Julians area one would have a car park in Pembroke/St Andrews area.
Thus, one would be implementing various park and ride systems with a sea-based public transport system in a coordinated manner so as to reduce transport problems around the harbours area.
Such a transport strategy would also incorporate a revised land-based public transport system. While some of the public transport vehicles would still travel to the central terminus of Valletta with the introduction of a sea-based system the need for such land-based travel would be reduced. Instead, one might consider having regional public transport terminals in the vicinity of the park and ride car parks and introduce circular routes for public transport with more efficient and, possibly, smaller buses with improved engines. One has to bear in mind that smaller vehicles mean less damage to the roads, less fuel consumption and less maintenance costs. Such circular routes can be determined after examining the travel patterns of residents in that particular area.
Such a transport strategy for Malta would incorporate an extensive sea-based public transport system and a modernised land-based public transport system that would no longer depend on a large central Valletta terminus. This would mean that the existing Valletta terminus would be re-dimensioned and thus easily relocated. The Piano project would be complete with the removal of the bus terminus because one would then landscape this area and connect it to the Mall gardens; a new pedestrian axis could be created from the Mall in Floriana to Fort St Elmo.
The success of the Piano project depends on the reform in the present public transport system. Unless an alternative system of public transport is introduced, which fulfils the needs of all those who visit Valletta, then instead of regenerating Valletta this project might lead to the exodus of businesses from Valletta.