Malta will make use of €28.5 million from European funds for alternative and sustainable transport projects, which include new ferry landing spots and diesel buses.

The Parliamentary for EU Funds and Social Dialogue, Aaron Farrugia, said that economic growth in Malta together with the fact that the country is becoming more cosmopolitan, presents several challenges that need to be addressed.

The government will be addressing these challenges through measures spread across four streams:

Existing ferry landing places will be upgraded to increase the potential of maritime transport as an alternative method of transportation. The construction of new landing sites at Ta’ Xbiex, St Julian’s and St Paul’s Bay will also form part of this project, thus allowing the extension of the ferry route network to incorporate locations with potential to provide access to urban cores.

Two pilot cycle corridors connecting Valletta to St Julian’s and Mosta to University and Mater Dei Hospital, will be constructed. The identified routes will be made even safer for cycling by improved lighting, including security features and features intended specifically to ensure cyclists’ safety.

As a pilot project, to make sure that we have cleaner air, nine buses will also be changed from diesel to electrical engines.

The National Traffic Control Centre will be extended to make sure that the monitoring of traffic in our country becomes more intensive. Interventions in this regard include the installation of 100 CCTV cameras in 27 locations and a web-based real-time application lead by Transport Malta that will offer real time information concerning traffic.

These measures, together with other projects such as the Kappara Junction, the Marsa Junction and other projects, amount to €120 million in investment from European Funds in transport between 2014 and 2020.