Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1529157
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 NOVEMBER 2024 ANALYSIS the bottleneck along this section of the TEN-T will challenge sustainable mo- bility in the greater part of the island. Since 2016, the govern- ment did invest in sever- al major road projects to ease traffic flow and render main junctions and thor- oughfares safer. It contin- ues to do so now with the proposed Msida flyover. It also introduced free pub- lic transport for everyone, including free harbour fer- ries. However, other meas- ures remained unfulfilled and traffic continues to be a major problem surfacing in every survey as one of the topmost concerns. And yet, despite the con- cerns, the number of cars on Malta's roads has con- tinued to increase. By Sep- tember 2024 the stock of licensed vehicles stood at 443,193, representing an average increase of 33 ve- hicles per day, according to the National Statistics Office. Traffic will continue to cause any transport minis- ter sleepless nights because only a cultural shift away from Malta's adulation for the private car can help re- duce road congestion sig- nificantly. This is unlikely to happen any time soon, which means tackling the problem is like treading in- to a minefield for any pol- itician. The difficulty to change behaviour patterns could also explain why proposals from 2016 remained unim- plemented and have now reappeared in the Bonett plan. When contacted for this report, Bonett would not comment on the failure of previous transport minis- ters to implement some of the proposals listed in his plan. Nonetheless, he insisted the Malta of today was a far different country from the one when the transport master plan was drafted. The minster reiterated his commitment to implement the proposed changes over an 18-month period. "The public consultation will end in December after which we will analyse the feedback and publish a fi- nal set of measures, which I will then discuss with the Malta Council for Eco- nomic and Social Devel- opment," Bonett said. He added: "Once the measures are fine-tuned, I am com- mitted to implementing them within 18 months." FROM PREVIOUS PAGE The Bonett plan: 'Government will engage with the private sector to discuss the plan- ning and implementation of deliveries dur- ing off-peak hours particularly in the retail, manufacturing, hospitality and construction sectors.' The Bonett plan: 'Study the feasibility and implementation of additional cargo services to Gozo possibly through the Malta Freeport, Kordin and Valletta.' The Bonett plan: 'Surrendering car driving li- cence and convincing youths not to obtain a car driving licence.' The Bonett plan: 'Development of a National Cycling Strategy.' The Bonett plan: 'Create a number of park and ride facilities particularly in retail/com- mercial centres.' The Bonett plan: 'Improved coordination be- tween relevant entities with a view to limit the inconvenience for citizens when projects are underway, whilst keeping local councils and residents in the area, abreast of project develop- ments. Adoption of Standards and Procedures.' Transport Master Plan 2025 (TMP 2025): '…the better time management organisation of freight deliveries within busy centres can ef- fectively reduce their impact during peak travel times… Options to improve the last mile deliv- ery of goods, could be explored through pilot projects, considering night-time delivery using low-noise vehicles and a coordination system for optimal scheduling.' TMP 2025: 'Since the Sa Maison Port will be converted into a yacht marina, government is currently looking for alternative facilities to im- prove internal sea freight transport in between the two islands, by re-locating domestic freight movements to the Port of Valletta.' Air Quality Plan 2023: 'Motorists voluntarily surrender their driving licence for a period and in return they will gain credit on a proposed mobility wallet… rewards include taxi services (preferably electric ones), grants to purchase electric bicycles, and vouchers which can be re- deemed at supermarkets and other service pro- viders. The proposal should be implemented in the medium term.' TMP 2025: 'Develop a cycling strategy focus- sing on the ''hub''… develop pilot cycle corridors between Valletta and: i) St. Julian's, Sliema; ii) Three Cities and Fgura, and iii) between villages.' TMP 2025: 'Optimise use of existing park and ride facilities and develop new sites at strategic locations to encourage modal interchange.' TMP 2025: 'Improve co-ordination and plan- ning with service utility infrastructure author- ities… One way to address this would be to es- tablish a coordination unit that brings together all service providers and their long-term plans for infrastructure.' Proposed in 2016, rediscovered in 2024 MaltaToday leafed through the proposals put forward by Chris Bonett to ease traffic congestion and found that several of them had already been proposed in the Transport Master Plan 2025, published in 2016. The proposal concerning the voluntary surrender of the driving licence was presented in more detail in the environment ministry's Air Quality Transport Plan published for consultation in 2023, which remains a works in progress. Off-peak service provision Freight to Gozo Giving up driving licence Cycling strategy Park and ride facilities Roadworks coordination