Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1462138
7 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 21 MARCH 2022 Partit Nazzjonalista Trackless tram Introduce a trackless tram that passes through arterial and dis- tributor roads on a dedicated lane. This will be complemented with a bus network that connects resi- dential areas with the mass trans- port system, ports and centres of employment. Grant and road licence Introduce a grant of €10,000 spread over five years to families that get rid of their old car and do not replace it during the period. To support climate neutrality principle, the annual road licence for private cars will not be linked to engine type but according to distance travelled and emissions. Expense will be capped. Electric cars Construction of rapid charging pillars for electric cars every 2km. Reduce the electricity tariff for car charging from 13c5 to 10c5 per unit at all times of the day. Electric cars will be exempt from paying the annual road licence. Roads Build an underground road net- work to alleviate traffic congestion while creating public spaces and better access for cyclists. ESG compliant contractors will be eligible to take part in a Private Finance Initiative to address the bad state of roads. Introduce geo-indexing through the use of internet so that infor- mation linked to minor traffic ac- cidents is collected digitally and in a quicker way to address one of the problems causing congestion on roads. Alternative travel Aim to have 10% of voyages un- dertaken by bicycles within five years by facilitating the safe use of bicycles on the road and incentives to people who use their bicycle to commute. Incentives for workers and em- ployers to make better use of re- mote working and use public transport or electric vehicles to commute to work. Gozo Expand the Mġarr port to better accommodate passengers and car- go. Gozitans will have the final say on the construction of a road tun- nel connecting the islands after all studies are finalised and published. Commission two new Gozo Channel ferries – one for passen- gers and another for cargo. Fishers Improve the infrastructure and facilities used by fishers, with em- phasis on Marsaxlokk and Xemxi- ja, to enable them to function in a competitive and effective environ- ment. ADPD Cycling and scooters Create bicycle super highways along main roads and prioritise bicycle use in urban areas. MCAST, Junior College, Higher Secondary and the University of Malta should be connected through se- cure bicycle routes with neighbouring localities and adequate parking space for bicycles. Use of electric scooters should be encouraged and re- strictions should be removed. Introduce generous grants and low interest loans for the purchase of bicycles, electric bicycles and scooters. Introduce more pedestrian zones in polluted areas. Public transport All public transport vehicles should be electric. Introduce priority bus corridors and bus rapid transit on existing roads. If needed, a hybrid system of tram and metro should be constructed using existing road infrastructure and with minimal excavation in the most populated centres. Cars All large vehicles should run on methane, bio-alco- hol or biodiesel by 2030, and eventually should be re- placed by electric vehicles. All private cars sold by 2030 must be electric vehicles. Controlled vehicle access (CVA) systems should be strengthened. Gozo Extend the fast ferry service from Gozo to other lo- calities apart from the Grand Harbour. Plans for a road tunnel and airstrip in Gozo will be scrapped. Going underground? Or prefer the trackless tram?