Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/734031
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2016 24 T ransport is an essential part of our daily life, so we are striving to implement measures to maximise the capacity of the road network through enforcement, monitoring and infrastructural interventions. We do not resort to drastic driving prohibitory measures as have been implemented in other countries, where vehicles may be driven on the road network according to a pre-specified schedule. The Traffic Management Committee, which brings together the Malta Police, Transport Malta, the Local Enforcement Services Agency and the GRTU chamber of small enterprises, these past weeks focused on the particular traffic-sensitive scenario which presents itself every year in September and October when children return to school and the school runs start once again, exacerbating the traffic situation. This situation has been occurring every year; however, with close monitoring and advance planning, this year the committee has managed to mitigate the situation in most areas with the help of all involved, and the cooperation of the public. This is to be considered within the context of the major roadworks currently being carried out at the Kappara Junction on the Regional Road. Each city in Europe experiences this problem when schools start once again after the summer holidays. Malta has about 335,000 licensed vehicles operating on a mere 2,400km of roads. Malta also has one of the highest population densities in the world. We recognise this geographical challenge and we understand and sympathise with drivers. One of the actions the Traffic Management Committee acted upon was the identification of the traffic-sensitive locations on the road network and deploying police at such locations to assist in the flow of traffic. Our priority is promoting the use of alternative modes of transport and a modal shift towards sustainable transport modes and practices. Considerable importance has been given to public transport. It was imperative that the public be provided with the best network and schedule of route buses to meet transportation needs in an efficient and effective manner. Last year we introduced a new bus fleet and the new system of fast-boarding with the use of Travel Cards, resulting in an increase in public transport patronage: since the introduction of the Tallinja Card in July 2015, there was a 20% increase in usage. Up to July of this year, there were more than 22 million passengers who made use of the service. This is a 16% increase in the first six months when compared with the same period in 2015. In the year 2015, the service was used by more than 40 million passengers, which is a 7% increase over the year 2014. New priority lanes were implemented to ensure public transport is given priority over other modes of transport. It is to be appreciated that the public will encounter inconvenience where major road construction projects are in hand. Last year works were undertaken in the Coast Road and the previous year saw the extensive works undertaken in December 13 Road. This year we have major roadworks ongoing at the Kappara Junction. The temporary traffic management arrangements supporting the Kappara roadworks have been successful at managing the traffic flows in the area. Now that the schools have started, the diversions are being closely monitored to ensure that the scheme is working as efficiently as possible. The temporary traffic management scheme included a number of interventions, such as the pelican crossings in Triq ix-Xatt, in Sliema and Gzira, which were changed to flashing amber. As stipulated in the Highway Code, a flashing amber means that vehicle drivers must give priority to pedestrians to cross the road. Vehicles may proceed with caution when no pedestrians need to cross the road. This arrangement reduces the duration and frequency of the vehicle stops along this route, which lead to higher congestions. Furthermore, the bus lanes in the zone of influence of the Kappara traffic diversions have been temporarily suspended for the duration of the Kappara works. These past few days we have informed the public of other measures which include: 1. Car Sharing where the government will be launching a call for the concession for the operation of a National Car Sharing service, open for transport operators and for private companies who would wish to invest and operate this type of service on a national basis. This system consists of a fleet of vehicles which make exclusive use of designated public parking. 2. Bicycle Sharing where Transport Malta is in the process of issuing a call for the concession for the provision of the bicycle sharing and the e-bike sharing service across the whole island. 3. Sea Transport measures to provide new sea links from different localities towards Valletta and Sliema to increase the popularity and flexibility of this service to further promote a modal shift, thus reducing the use of private vehicles. 4. Other measures included the reduction in the licence fees for small motorcycles as an incentive to increase their usage, the ban on horses from the arterial and distributor road network during traffic sensitive time periods, the Intelligent Traffic Management Systems Project to improve traffic management and efficiency on strategic routes and junction, an increase in roadside inspections being carried out by Transport Malta officials and an increase in penalties for the use of mobile phones whilst driving. Now Malta has its first National Transport Strategy comprising a comprehensive document which has been launched for public consultation. Through this document, the government will be looking at solutions intended to reduce travel time from one locality to another, to reduce traffic congestions, to reduce vehicle emissions, thus improving air, to increase accessibility for public transport in a way that it is considered as an adequate alternative to the private vehicle, to increase road safety and to promote punctuality in the public transport service. The document outlines 29 different major interventions to promote cycling and other similar initiatives, investment in post facilities and other long-term studies such as the permanent link between Malta and Gozo and a Rapid Mass Transport System. The government is also ensuring that roadworks are being closely and properly monitored, to ensure traffic management arrangements are implemented, and where possible, roadworks are being carried out during the night. The public is encouraged to plan their journeys ahead and to follow the traffic and road closure notifications which are regularly issued in the local media. Our policy is not to prohibit the use of the private vehicles but to promote a modal shift to alternative sustainable modes of transport according to specific requirements and the distances required to be travelled. Joe Mizzi is minister for transport and infrastructure Opinion Traffic: We're focusing on priorities Joe Mizzi Our policy is not to prohibit the use of private vehicles but to promote a modal shift to alternative sustainable modes of transport