Stakeholders said that yesterday morning’s feared traffic congestion on the first day of the free school transport system did not materialise and, instead, it was an overall success in terms of consistent flow of traffic.

Minibus Coopertive Chairman Manuel Falzon expressed positive remarks as, at the time of his comments on Monday afternoon, he had not received any complaints from the minibus drivers regarding the implementation of the state-funded transport scheme.

This newsroom also contacted the police who told us that members of the police who were out assisting with directing traffic noted that, in comparison to last year, ‘traffic improved considerably’. They remarked that the most congested areas were, Naxxar Road, San Gwann, l-Imghallaq area (Qormi) and Marsa Bypass – but ‘this was due to road works that are currently taking place’ they explained.

According to these stakeholders, on Wednesday, the first day of school for state school students, the situation is ‘expected to be the same’, but they also suggested using public transport and car pooling to further ease the traffic flow.

Through their Traffic Control Centre, Transport Malta (TM) observed that in spite of the substantial increase in traffic, ‘a number of improvements implemented by Infrastructure Malta have left their mark as the waiting times at Marsa / Hamrun bypass, Triq Aldo Moro, the Gudja roundabout and in Qormi have decreased’.

Like the police, TM urged drivers to consider more sustainable means of transport, adding that sometimes it is better to take longer routes which are not as congested as direct links.