Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1424528
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 31 OCTOBER 2021 14 COMMERCIAL An integrated and sustainable approach to mass transportation By Angelo Xuereb I am pleased that the Government has come to the realization that we need a mass transportation system to reduce traf- fic congestion and emissions in Malta. I have been proposing the concept of a Monorail / Metro System for the past 31 years and in the interim I have proactive- ly shared in-depth insight and expert-led knowledge in several public articles and interviews. My proposals, dating back to 1990, include an initial phase to address the most congested zones in the outer Har- bour areas, together with a fully-fledged system proposal, recently raised this Feb- ruary 2021. Throughout this time, I reit- erated that the acute traffic problem in Malta would worsen over time and that a practical and sustainable solution should be sought out without any further delays. Location of stations Let us not forget the main objective of having a mass transportation system; that of enticing as many users as possible to choose public transportation over their personal vehicles. The government's pro- posal of integrating stations at the very core of our towns and villages defeats this original scope. Considering the wealth of heritage, space, and incompatible structures, the stations should not be located in the urban core, but rather in the periphery of our towns and villages. It is clear that 90% of the Govern- ment's proposed metro system is depend- ent on the usage of Feeder Buses (smaller buses that pick up commuters from vari- ous bus stops that are scattered around the villages and towns). And although the feeders are important for the success of this project, they can also cause traffic conges- tion and noise pollution if added with oth- ers hailing from nearby villages. A successful Monorail / Metro System for Malta needs to acknowledge the typology of the island's urban landscape, rather than casting a system that is more suitable for large European countries. We should aim to improve Maltese citizens' quality of life by refining the overall flow within the cen- tral areas of our towns and villages, without adversely affecting the commercial poten- tial within each area. The mentioned stations are appropriate when located in the outskirts of our towns, where the population in that area is not so dense and when they are complemented with parking facilities. Positioning the sta- tions outside the core village and town are- as is the most logical and effective solution for all involved. The advantages of having these stations in the periphery of Malta's towns or villages are many. Some are the following: • More parking space for Feeder Bus- es, together with safe embarkation and disembarkation of passengers. • Carpark facilities at a higher hourly rate would be necessary since there would still be clusters of people pre- ferring the use of personal vehicles to get to the fast metro / monorail. • It would be far more practical and time efficient for Feeder Buses to use stations that are located on the pe- riphery of the town or village rather than having to manoeuvre through winding narrow streets during peak hours, to reach the city centre sta- tions! In practical terms, one just has to imagine Feeders from Siġġiewi, Żebbuġ and Qormi driving to Marsa, Mrieħel or Ħamrun dur- ing peak hours to foresee a disaster in the making, right in the centre of our towns and villages! Proposed Master Plan My proposed Master Plan costs less than the Government's estimated expense of €6 billion; has a wider catchment area of the population; and covers the entire stretch of the island, right to Ċirkewwa. The Master Plan is based on a network of three main routes, spanning 52 km, with a total of 17 stations (3 of which will serve as interchange stations) having adequate parking for the Feeder Buses, coaches, tax- is or cabs. This will surely encourage more people to make use of 'call-in' cabins or tax- is. As outlined in my Master Plan, it is high- ly advisable to construct elevated railways. Besides being considerably cheaper to construct than underground tunnels, they also offer a pleasant route to view our ru- ral areas when passing over on elevated