Low road tolls and free public transport during rush hours could contribute to a necessary modal shift, Labour MP Godfrey Farrugia said yesterday.
Dr Farrugia made the proposal as part of a pull-and-push approach to break out of the vicious circle that saw a drop in public transport patronage and more use of private vehicles.
A report by the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development (of the University of Malta) indicated that such modal shift was imperative to address the prevailing traffic congestion problems, Dr Farrugia said.
MPs from both sides of the House who participated in a parliamentary debate on the budget of the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure agreed that traffic congestion was a serious challenge that had a significant bearing on the quality of life. The prevailing situation was having an impact on health, the economy and the environment and required both a host of immediate steps as well as medium- and long-term measures.
However, there was disagreement about what was causing such problems.
A pull-and-push approach to break out of the vicious circle that saw a drop in public transport patronage
Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said previous administrations lacked commitment in developing the necessary transport infrastructure and this was taking a lot of the present government’s time and energy.
Traffic problems reached their present level because the government failed to deliver on the three measures it had indicated in the electoral manifesto: a national traffic management plan, a coordination unit for road works and better public transport, Marthese Portelli (PN) said.
The two sides had divergent views on the measures being proposed in the Budget.
Dr Portelli, Charlo Bonnici (PN) and Robert Arrigo (PN) remarked that the Budget spoke of consultations, discussions and analyses rather than concrete measures.
Kristy Debono (PN) said that, rather than an appropriate holistic plan, the Budget put forward knee-jerk reactions.
Anthony Bezzina (PN) remarked that the public transport routes planned to be introduced on September 13 were still pending. This was caused by trade union issues, Mr Mizzi pointed out.
Concluding the debate, Mr Mizzi listed the work carried out by the various departments and agencies within his ministry this year and expressed his determination to address transport-related challenges.