TMID Editorial: Transport proposals

Both the government and the Nationalist Party seem to somewhat be on the same page in terms of a long-term possible project to help solve Malta's traffic problems, but the two sides really need to come together and plan things out collectively."In ou

By: independent.com.mt

Oct 14 2024
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TMID Editorial: Transport prop

"In our 2022 electoral manifesto, we had proposed the introduction of a mass transport system based on a trackless tram system, that would pass through dedicated lanes and would link important regions together," the Nationalist Party's spokesperson for Transport, Mark Anthony Sammut told The Malta Independent on Sunday. This, Sammut said, would help people reach such destinations in a short time span without getting stuck in traffic.

Transport Minister Chris Bonett recently mentioned a rapid bus transit system, Sammut said, "which is essentially the same thing, using dedicated lanes. Whether it is a trackless tram or a large bus is just a detail, but the concept the government is mentioning is the same. And we have to move in that direction. We need to provide an alternative that takes people from point A to point B in a short time".

Transport Minister Chris Bonett is, according to a Times of Malta article, mulling a bus rapid transit system, that operates with buses that drive in exclusive lanes, separate from general traffic. "They would stop at stations from where you can then take smaller, feeder buses that take you to village centres," the minister said. The PN's idea, too, would make use of feeder buses.

So it seems that both parties could be on the same page regarding a possible way forward.

Really and truly in order for a long-term solution to be found for Malta's traffic problems, aside from it requiring a number of different measures as one single measure on its own would not be enough, both parties need to work together to ensure continuity.

Sammut told this newsroom that when he and Transport Minister Chris Bonett were appointed to their respective roles, they met once unofficially. But that isn't enough and there really should be much more dialogue on this issue.

Sammut also said that the ministry recently announced that it will launch a consultation process with the constituted bodies and the Opposition on the government's vision for transport. "When we are invited we will participate in that process and provide our ideas." But the only way traffic problems can really be tackled is if joint solutions are found and agreed upon by both major parties. That would ensure that any decision taken, even if unpopular at first, would be backed by both parties, and would also ensure continuity between one government and the next.

Now a trackless tram, or rapid bus transit system could be effective, but only if people start switching from using their cars to using such a transport option. Sammut told this newsroom that Malta has many roads where lanes are wider than the European standard, and so lanes can be made narrower to make room, and thus current lanes would not need to be taken up. "But there will be a few roads where you would need to take up a lane. You have to give preference to those who are opting to reduce traffic by using that system rather than using their private car. Of course you have to provide an efficient, fast and reliable service," he said.

If the service isn't frequent enough, isn't reliable, then people would just use their car and the traffic issue, due to lanes being taken up in some areas, would grow. The service would need to ensure reliability, and have a high frequency. Ideally such a project would also be coupled with other incentives to help people voluntarily give up using their cars.

A trackless tram transport system, or rapid bus transit system, utilising the roads does tend to make more sense than a tracked system that would require years of infrastructural works to complete in order to get things moving, and many, many millions of euros to get moving. But both major parties should work on a common plan for the future, as that would bring about the best chance of success.